March 26, 1993

Muslim Journal

"Who Forbids The Good Things God Approved?"

Imam W. Deen Mohammed

When we read the Qur'an we register things differently from a lot of Blacks when they read it. God says to us in the Qur'an, "Who forbids the good things that God approved for His servants?" We look at that thinking with a rational mind and questioning even that which is shrouded in secrecy. We question things that just don't register well on our intelligence.

We can establish institutions and rise to influence the destiny of the town we live in. That is all open to us and belongs "to the good things" of which some people in this society want to say, "That's forbidden to you, Wallace." I'm going to get some of "the good things" that God has promised me. Becoming a banker, becoming a financier and loaning money to people and financing their new entrepreneurial aspirations are good things.

"Don't forget your share of this world." Thank you, God, I'm not going to forget it. That's for me too. "Don't neglect your share of this world." Thank you, God. That's for me too. After waking up, we read the Qur'an and we register things of importance a little differently.

W.E.B. DuBois encouraged us to think and have faith in our ability to realize profit and advances for ourselves with the tools of our own independent thinking. I'm saying to you that the Nation of Islam had as its main purpose just that. I would like to say to you also that W.D. Fard had as his main purpose that. I would like to say to you also that I am not desired as a leader by certain Muslims in the Islamic World now because I advocate that. Certain ones want us to give up this habit of trusting and believing in our ability to think for ourselves or to think independently.

Most of the people in leadership want servants and slaves. The reason why Al-
Islam caught on so fast in the world during the time of the Prophet, the prayers and the peace be on him, is-because he came to break that kind of slavery. The Qur'an was powerful in breaking it. All of you who accept Al-Islam, you are not anybody's slave. All of you are "the 'abd' (slave) of God." Allah came with Al-Islam, with the Qur'an, and with Muhammed the Prophet and claimed us all, every human being — man, woman, black, brown, yellow, or red — all as His slaves to take us away from the slave masters.

I can't be your slave, when God says He created me to enjoy the production of my mind and its resources and to make utility out of everything that is in the skies and in the earth. God told everyone of us He created us to utilize all that is in the skies and all that is in the earth for the advancement of society and human life.

We pray to Allah always to forgive us our shortcomings, our sins, to have mercy on us and to favor us with His Guidance and with understanding, so that we continue to promote the excellence that He created us with. That we establish that excellence and not let it lie dormant.