Ishmael Muhammad

Ishmael Muhammad, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1964,^[1] is an American Nation of Islam member, and a son of Elijah Muhammad and Tynnetta Muhammad. He is the Nation of Islam national assistant minister to Louis Farrakhan. In 1995, Muhammad was a speaker at the Million Man March.^[2]

Of Elijah Muhammad’s 21 children, he is the eldest son of his mother Tynnetta Muhammad, who claimed to be Elijah's second wife.^[3][4] He is the Student Minister at Mosque Maryam, the headquarters of the Nation of Islam.^[5] Muhammad is also a Council Member and "is sometimes considered the most likely successor" to Louis Farrakhan.^[6]

Muhammad was most recently featured on the Nation of Islam's national stage at the 2013 Holy Day of Atonement event on October 20, at which Muhammad delivered the keynote address in place of Louis Farrakhan who was unable to attend due to illness. Farrakhan's selection of Muhammad to speak in his absence may shed light on the future direction of the group's leadership.^[7] He played a prominent role at the large-scale event accompanying the funeral of his mother in February 2015.^[8]

References

1. "Nation of Islam's New Shoes". NewsOne. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
2. "Official Program". Washington, D.C.: Million Man March. 1995-10-16: 8.
3. MacFarquhar, Neil (2007-02-26). "Nation of Islam at a Crossroad as Leader Exits". The New York Times.
4. Gardell, Mattias, In the name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Duke University Press, 1996, page 125
5. "The Nation of Islam - Central Region - Chicago, Illinois - Central Regional Headquarters". Retrieved 18 June 2013.
6. Lepeska, David (2011-04-09). "Farrakhan Using Libyan Crisis to Bolster His Nation of Islam". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
7. "Farrakhan's Absence From NOI Event Spotlights Possible Successor, Ishmael Muhammad". Access ADL. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
8. Mother Tynnetta Muhammad - A heartfelt and fitting tribute to a perfect example