There are moments in the life of a people that cannot be reduced to simple events or routine gatherings. They are moments that summon us, unsettle us, and ultimately require something greater from us. What took place recently in Chicago at Mosque Maryam was such a moment. It was not just a meeting. It was not simply a convening of men. It was a CALL—issued by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and supported by his devoted helpers, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan, Grandmaster Abdul Aziz, and so many others.
This call did not remain confined to a single room. It reverberated across not only the Nation of Islam’s community, but the Black community here and abroad, as it was broadcast to mosques around the country, including Mosque No. 28 in St. Louis, where brothers gathered in unity and anticipation. What we witnessed—whether in Chicago or in cities across America—was an undeniable stirring of the spirit.
At the heart of this moment is the divine call itself, one that is echoed across the major scriptures. The Holy Qur’an commands in Surah 8:24: “O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when He calls you to that which gives you life.” This is not merely an instruction to exist but to rise into a life infused with purpose, discipline, and moral clarity.
The Bible records a similar call in Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” The Torah echoes the same in Exodus 19:5: “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples.”
Across these texts, the theme is unwavering: God calls us upward, while fear and comfort pull us down. The Qur’an asks pointedly in Surah 9:38: “What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, you cling heavily to the earth?” The Bible offers its parallel admonition in Judges 18:9: “Do not hesitate to go… for God has put the land into your hands.” And the Torah affirms in Deuteronomy 30:19: “Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live.”
This struggle—to rise or to cling—is as present today as it was in the ancient world.
What was witnessed in Chicago was a reminder that God’s call is not abstract. It is direct, urgent, and aimed at men who have too often been lulled into passivity by distraction, wounds, excuses, and the comfort of “staying low.” This call was to responsible manhood—to reclaim our roles as protectors, providers, builders, and moral anchors.
Inside Mosque Maryam, something sacred unfolded. Men of all faiths and backgrounds stood side by side: Christians, Muslims, Hebrews, Moors, spiritual seekers, street brothers, elders, and youth. It was not merely a Muslim meeting; it was a manhood meeting embraced by many. And within that space, I was blessed—for the second time—to meet and speak with the Honorable Minister Farrakhan in person.
Regardless of one’s religious or organizational affiliation, there is no denying the power, presence, and anointing of a man divinely appointed to uplift a people who have endured centuries of trials, abuse, oppression, hatred, and self-hatred unparalleled in human history. When the Minister stepped forward, the atmosphere shifted. Even at 91 years old, he stood as a father, a guide, a shepherd, a warner, and a healer.
He reminded us with profound simplicity: “We must rediscover the God in ourselves, for God is love—and if you don’t have love, you don’t have God.” This reminder placed love—not sentimentality, but disciplined, courageous, selfless love—at the center of manhood.
Answering this call demands action. It means strengthening our spiritual lives. It means fathering our children with presence and guidance. It means supporting and protecting our women. It means rebuilding our communities through mentorship, service, and leadership. It means building economic stability through work, saving, and investing. It means rejecting division, ego, and envy among men. It means seeking personal healing through brotherhood, therapy, and forgiveness.
The scriptures all pose the same question: Why hesitate? In Surah 9:38, God asks, “What is the matter with you?” Isaiah 1:17 commands, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” Joshua 1:9 in the Torah urges, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
The call has been issued—from God, from scripture, from the Minister, from our families, and from the condition of our communities. Now we must decide whether we will answer.
For those who wish to take the next step, the Nation of Islam hosts a nationwide men’s meeting every Monday at 7:30 PM at NOI.org, with local participation at Mosque No. 28 in St. Louis.
Whether one attends or not, the obligation remains: to answer the call through love, service, protection, responsibility, unity, obedience, and sacrifice.
The call has gone out. The question before us is simple:
Will we answer?
