Our Journey In The Nation of Islam

Cooking and Serving for the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad The Messenger of Allah

By Sharon Ali Muhammad

    I was inspired to write this book journal because I felt I should share my blessing with others.  There are so many memories stored in my mind and I’m only sharing a small portion of my experiences in the Nation of Islam, but when I would reflect on the past, everyone would say you should write a book Sharon, so I decided to attempt to put my thoughts on paper. As I began writing, I became inspired myself and began to remember the wonderful life that I was blessed with and to be able to take someone down this journey with me. I would like for you to follow me through my journey in the Nation of Islam; some of us will have had some of the same experiences growing up in the Nation of Islam.  I just want others to see what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad wanted for us and gave to us.  I belonged to a Nation within a Nation, with good homes, good schools, and businesses.

                 These chapters are memories of many different experiences of my childhood, growing up and learning that life is a journey, of ups and downs with trials, the pains, and gains, of life. Writing this book has reminded me of so many things that I had forgotten, and how it made me appreciate where I have been, what I have overcome, where I am going, and the people I have forgotten along the way, my family, dear friends, and teachers.  What a blessing, I am thankful to Allah for bringing me through all these steps in life and I will pray that He will continue to guide me through. All praises are due to Allah for his love and mercy.

~Sharon Ali Muhammad

Excerpts

The most Honorable Elijah Muhammad cherished the time he had with his wife, Sister Clara. There was a small breakfast nook off from the kitchen. Hear the Messenger would have coffee every morning with his wife. He did not want to be disturbed while he was with his wife, and he meant it.

He would tell my mother, “when I am in here with my wife, and anyone wants to get in here to see me, you tell them that I said not to disturb me, even if it is my dead father that got out of his grave and wants to see me.” “You tell him that I said I am in here with my wife, and I do not want to be disturbed.”

In the early sixties, Allah bestowed a great blessing to me by being able to serve at the dinner table of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and his guests. A great honor for me, at the time I was eleven years old. My mother became one of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s cooks. One of her dear friends by the name of Sister Kathleen who was one of the Messenger’s cooks, told my mother, “the Messenger is looking for another cook why don’t you apply.”

My mother then said, “if he wants someone who cannot cook, tell him to hire me.”  Sister Kathleen went back and told the Messenger what my mother had said.  My mother had no idea that the Sister had given her name….