Posted by Fahim Al-Basir on December 30, 2000 at 00:56:24:
In Reply to: Re: Re: To Brother Fahim Regarding Clarence 13X posted by BRO. SHADI on December 29, 2000 at 21:30:42:
Peace,
I understand what you're saying, and in a vacuum your argument works. However, I'm going to try to explain this to you again: it does not satisfy my intelligence to ASSUME that the Messenger did not respect Clarence 13X's work out on the streets of Harlem. If it were any other sporadic group, fine, I understand that. But the 5% Nation of Islam was a pretty large group of "hypocrites" not to address publically. The Messenger was very explicit in regards to those he considered to be hypocrites; this much I have grasped with my minute knowledge on my Nation's history. Whether it be Malcolm, or the preachers, or the Orthodox Muslims, he was VERY vocal and VERY specific on whomever he deemed to be hypocritical. Why? I believe it was a part of his duty to show us who to keep away from and who to embrace. As the Messenger of Allah that would make perfect sense.
Brother, I understand if you're not getting this, but, let me explain it one more time...I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE NATION OF GODS AND EARTHS. On many occasions, I have entered into these brothers' ciphers, and been asked to leave because I couldn't stand idly by and watch them bastardize The Messenger's words and concepts, and flip them into some odd allegory which only seems to serve their own purposes. On many occasions, I have been insulted. During one build in particular, I remember the words "f*** the Muslims" (pardon me Seventhfam) being uttered from a savage, highly-anxious Godbody who could not deal with the fact that Elijah Muhammad explained that God was a Muslim.
Now, if I may continue: I consider myself to be a Five Percenter as was taught in the second Muslim Lesson of our Supreme Wisdom. At the time of these Lessons' construction, the Nation of Islam (as an organization of believers) was called, as you know, Allah's Holy Temple of Islam. You and I both know that the members of this collective couldn't have hardly accounted for Five Percent of ANY population. This only means that there were a Five Percent before the construction of the FOI and MGT classes, which means that if you weren't teaching who the True and Living God is, you were a participant in the hellfire. Simple and plain. I don't see the Fruit of Islam as being 85% or 10%, do you? So what were they, then? What of those who had not yet been blessed with the civilizing force of these courses? Were they, at the point of the implementation of the courses, members of the 85%? You will say that I have no excuse not to join the Fruit of Islam now, and those people back then had the choice. But there's always the lingering idea of someone having knowledge of self, as well as the use of that knowledge, outside of the Mosque.
My point is this: I can't see why The Messenger would NOT address brother Clarence. I can't see why everyone addresses ME as a follower of brother Clarence, when clearly I defend him about as much as I defend brother Farrakhan, of whom we all know I am not a follower. I can't see why anyone believes that Clarence was not at least a Fruit of Islam, as he appeared in finest suit always, observed the Muslim diet (or at least taught to do so), and so on and so forth.
I am not trying to romanticize Clarence 13X as a person. This is the biggest misconception amongst the believers on this message board in regards to what I believe personally. It is, rather, the idea of Knowledge of Self beyond the Mosque. That is the one concept which has me stumped. All I know is that right now, I don't have a choice. I'm only 16, none of my family is Muslim, so the best I can do is bear witness to the Messenger's teachings and strive to live them out in my personal dealings and dietary observances. But you better believe that at 18 I'm right in the Temple with you brothers :). But for now, I am what you call a poor righteous teacher, delivering to whoever will lend an ear.
I'd hate to have to say this again, but I hope this is the LAST time I have to attempt to give you better understanding on my position with the 5% Nation.
As-Salaam Alaikum,
Fahim Al-Basir the GOD