THE NATION OF ISLAM S T U D Y C O U R S E

Muhammad University of Islam © 2011

WEDNESDAY CLASS WEEK 36

STUDY GUIDE 10

THE GOD WITHIN

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This study course is designed to be done both in a course room, mosque, study-group or self-paced at home. Certain parts of this course (Key Word Study) will be done with a partner. Other parts will be done independently (by yourself). When its time to partner, you and your partner (twin) are to follow the steps provided in this guide. The study course is laid out in the order you do them. It is important not to skip any steps of the guide. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE TO BE FOLLOWED IN OUR CLASSES.

Purpose of this Study Course Guide:

The purpose of this study course guide is to guide you through this course of study.

Time to Complete:

Although the hour and a half that we have for study this evening will hopefully allow you to progress through most of this study, however it is strongly recommend that you continue to work on this study course at home at your own pace.

Important Note: During the study course session, if you have any questions raise your hand for assistance. Each believer (student) should have a copy of this handout and its instructions to take home and continue studying on their own. All steps may not be completed in the class sessions in its entirety.

Study Course Steps Step 1: Key Word Clearing Time Frame: 30 min Key words are important words related to key concepts found in the reading. Having a good understanding of the meanings of these words will help each student better understand the important concepts and ideas of the study, as well as eliminate misunderstandings that come with misunderstood words. Use the key word list and definitions found in this packet to do the drill (exercise) a and b.

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1.) Select a partner (closest to you) and study the Key Words together, through reviewing the questions and answers to master. (If done in course room or mosque/study group the time allotted is 30-45 minutes)

2.) First time through: The student has the questions and answers in front of him or her. The partner asks the student the question, and the student answers it. He/She can look at the answer if needed. The answer does not have to be word-for-word or memorized; just the concept must be correct.

3.) Second time through: Once finished with the drill the first time, you start again from the beginning, this time without the answers in front of you. Your partner asks the question and you answers. If the answer is incorrect, your partner shows you the answer. Look at the answer again and repeat until you have grasped the concept, then continue to the next one.

Step 2: Independent Reading Time Frame: 30 min After completing step one, you may begin to read the selected reading materials. Step 3: Check Your Understanding Questions: Time Frame: 30 min Review the lists of questions. Each question is formulated to check your understanding of the key concepts and ideas found in the reading. Answer each question on a sheet of paper and be prepared to discuss your answers at the conclusion of this session. Sufficient time may not be given during class session to answer all of the questions. If you do not finish in class, please continue this step at home.

S t u d y C o u r s e I n s t r u c t i o n s

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What does within mean? Within means inside (something). What is a key? A key is a thing that provides a means of gaining access to or understanding something. What is an identity? An identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. What does it mean to be blind? Blind means unable to see; sightless. It also means lacking perception, awareness, or discernment. What does it mean to be deaf? Deaf means lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing. It means to be unwilling or unable to hear or pay attention to something. What does it mean to be dumb? Dumb means unable to speak as a natural state and thus regarded as helpless or deserving pity; speechless. What does exceedingly mean? Exceedingly means extremely or to a great extent. What is a handicap? Handicap a condition that markedly restricts a person's ability to function physically, mentally, or socially. It is to place (someone) at a disadvantage. What does devoid mean? Devoid means entirely lacking or free from. What is a savage? Savage means a person that has lost the knowledge of himself and who is living a beast life.” It also means wild, uncontrolled and brutish.

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What is an impossibility? Impossibility is the state or fact of being impossible. Impossible means not able to occur, exist, or be done; difficult to deal with. What is a force? Force is a person or thing regarded as exerting power or influence. What does contrary mean? Contrary means opposite in nature, direction, or meaning. It also means perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired What is reasoning? Reasoning is the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way. What is confusion? Confusion is lack of understanding; uncertainty. It is the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something. What is an intermediary? An intermediary is a person who acts as a link between people in order to try to bring about an agreement or reconciliation; a mediator. What does it mean to degenerate? Degenerate means having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline. What is anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. What is doubt? Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

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Minister Louis Farrakhan NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONORABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD

AND THE NATION OF ISLAM

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL. I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH

AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS MESSENGER.

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As–Salaam Alaikum.

Dear Believer:

May this letter find you well and in good spirits.

The knowledge of Self is the greatest of all knowledge. It is akin to the knowledge of Allah (God). Both of these knowledges, which is really one, is the key to our return to God, Self and Power.

The study of ourselves as Black people (Original People of the Earth) must never be abandoned. We must know ourselves historically, biologically, genetically, but we must also go to the root of ourselves, which is knowledge of the nature in which we are created, which is the Essence of Self–knowledge.

Master Fard Muhammad called all of us Muslims. This is an indication that our real national identity does not come from the Earth or a particular land mass, for national boundaries are actually artificial. We are from the Earth, but the Essence of us is from Allah (God). This is why we do not refer to ourselves as members of a nation tied to a particular land mass, but we are directly tied to the Creator and the nature in which we are created. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said that we are members of the Creator’s Nation so we must act accordingly.

So, we are the Lost–Found Members of the Nation of Islam. Our natural home is the entire Planet Earth. This is why in the Actual Facts and the Student Enrollment, Master Fard Muhammad asks us the total area of the Planet Earth (196,940,000 square miles); how much is the Land (57,255,000 square miles) and how much is the Water (139,685,000 square miles); for this (Earth) is our Home --- ALL OF IT.

Phase Two of this study, by the help of Allah (God), will take us more deeply into Self.

In English Lesson C–1, Question 19 asks, “How many original Muslims are there in North America?” The answer, at the time of that writing in the early 1930’s, was “A little over seventeen million.” The question is then asked, “Did I hear you say that some of the seventeen million do not know that they are Muslims?” The answer is, “YES SIR.” “I hardly believe that, unless they are blind, deaf and dumb.” “Well, they were made blind, deaf and dumb by the devil, when they were babies.”

To be blind, deaf or dumb is a handicap. However, when we are afflicted with all three (3) of these conditions — blindness, deafness, dumbness — we are exceedingly handicapped. A “handicap” is “any disadvantage that makes success more difficult.” It includes being physically disabled, as well as mentally deficient.

Look at how far we have fallen since the deportation of the Moon from the Earth, 66 trillion years ago. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that Allah used the history of the work of the God of the Moon, 66 trillion years ago, to teach us something of ourselves and of our enemy. We, the Black man and woman in

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America, are devoid of wisdom and the knowledge of self and others, even as the Moon is devoid of water.

The Fall of Adam represents man’s succumbing to the power of his lower nature, the underworld. “All in Adam die” because his fall under the powers of the lower self resulted in ruin, disgrace an ultimately spiritual death followed by an untimely physical death. We have lost our ability to sustain ourselves on this Earth for any period of time for we are living a life lower than the animals. But Allah (God) intends for us to be His Vicegerent; His Khalifa, His Successor in this realm.

In the Bible, in the Book of Revelations, the rulers of the Earth are given the names “Serpent”, “Beast” and “Dragon”. They are not considered redeemable. We are in an even worse condition than the rulers of this world, for we accept them as our leaders and take guidance from them. As a result, we have become savages. In Lost–Found Muslim Lesson No. 1, we are taught that a “Savage means a person that has lost the knowledge of himself and who is living a beast life.” This is why we are likened to the physically dead and our return to civilized thinking is actually considered an impossibility.

However, this exquisite knowledge of God, Self and others, given to us by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, will ultimately lead us to absolute power and mastery over Self. As a result, the “devil” will be completely destroyed. No more “devils” will exist on the Earth. Not just by physical destruction, but by the return of man to himself by mastery over the forces within himself, the lack of which led to his fall 66 trillion years ago.

Best wishes for your continued success along the path of Self–Mastery.

As–Salaam Alaikum

Your Brother,

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan National Representative of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and The Nation of Islam

LF/am

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T H E G O D W I T H I N by

THE HONORABLE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN

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ANALYSIS

There is but one force: the Life Force. Each of the 99 attributes of Allah (God) is a force. Beneficence is guided by a force; Mercy is guided by a force. Retribution is guided by a force. In sharing Himself with man, God has placed these same forces or powers in the human being.

These forces may be used for negative ends or positive ends. In order to serve positive ends the forces must be controlled. Allah (God) is the uniting principle bringing these forces into submission to His singular Will, to accomplish a certain objective. The dialogue taking place in Holy Qur’an 2:30 is actually the God, the Ruler, reasoning with the forces within Himself. He says, “I”, for He is the uniting principle, “am going to place a ruler in the earth.” Then He allows the contrariness of the various forces (angels) to come up. Through reasoning with them, He unites them behind His Will; He unites His own Self–Community that He may go on with His Plan.

This same process occurs within us, as He has placed some of Himself within us. When we think to do a thing, other thoughts come up within us, questioning the move, or objecting to the move. We must then reason with ourselves to reach a conclusion, for confusion within Self has a chilling effect on movement. When we are confused, unsure, we cannot take action. So here, Allah (God), says to the questioning forces within Himself, “I know what you know not.”

The Arabic word for “angel” is “malak”. It is said to be derived from “malaka”, meaning “he controlled”, and refers to the angels’ function of controlling the forces of nature on the physical side of life, or from “alk”, which means “to send”, referring to their function of acting as intermediaries between God and Man.

Allah (God) shares Himself with human beings. However, when God shares Himself with us, He gives us a difficulty to overcome. We have to struggle with The Life Force that is within us, which is The Only Force there is. There is no other Force but God. There is but One Life that is given to Us and that is Divine Life.

“And when thy Lord said to the angels, I am going to place a ruler in the earth, they said: Wilt Thou place in it such as make mischief in it and shed blood? And we celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy holiness. He said: Surely I

know what you know not.” Holy Qur’an 2:30

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“‘I am going to place a ruler in the Earth.’ Not on the Earth, but in the Earth. Where did you come from? Your flesh is from... the vegetation of the Earth. Your bone is from... the stone of the Earth. Your blood is from... the water of the Earth. This lump of flesh and blood and bone has to have a ruler in it. Something that commands it; something that dominates it....” “...God is going to form this body and He knows that you are supreme above the Sun, Moon and Stars; above all the creatures. You are the Supreme Existence – Man and Woman. He is going to place in you a ruler.”

“In Hebrew, ‘ruler’ means ‘Elohim’ or ‘God’, ‘Divine Essence’, ‘Will’, ‘Divine Force’. God shares himself with Man and Woman. The only reason you can say I is because the True I has shared a part of His I AM with you, that you may be.... He, Allah, God, places in you a Power from Himself....”

Self-Improvement: The Basis For Community Development – Paragraphs 66-68

Look at the time and the source of the revelation of His intentions. The Holy Qur’an was revealed 1400 years ago, bringing this declaration, not in past tense or in future tense, but in present progressive tense, meaning this is occurring now. In giving His wisdom and knowledge to man, God is breaking the circle of 24 scientists who have kept this divine power among itself. This decision causes great distress, because the angels, observing man’s behavior, which is already degenerating, are certain that when he is given the power of God, he will do nothing but create mischief and shed blood (kill). They already know what the God of Moon did 66 trillion years ago through the misuse of Divine Power, so they are shocked that God would consider placing that same power in such an ill–equipped creature as Man.

“The Angels say,’You are Holy. Why should you do a thing like this? And God says,’I know what you know not.’ (Self–Improvement Page 12)

“God declares His Will to the angels, the controlling forces of nature, to create Man, who is meant to rule the forces of nature, and to whom, therefore, power to rule is to be delegated. Being entrusted with such great powers, man could use them rightly or wrongly, and it is to this fear of abuse of power that the angels give expression...The whole history of man is briefly written in this one verse.

Man is the greatest killer on Earth, but he also turns the gifts of God to the best use...to God was known the brighter side as well as the darker side of this picture. Hence the words,’I know what you know not.’” Holy Qur’an (Footnotes 48-50 Maulana Muhammad Ali Translation)

While giving expression to their concern over the darker side of humanity (mischief–making and bloodshedding), the angels still declare that they realize this is not the Divine purpose for placing His Power in man, because Allah (God) is Holy; he is “free from all imperfections”. (See footnote 51 Holy Qur’an, Maulana Muhammad Ali)

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“God is a man and we just cannot make Him other than a man, lest we make Him an inferior one; for man’s intelligence has no equal in other than man. His Wisdom is infinite; capable of accomplishing anything that His brains can conceive. A spirit is subjected to us and not we to the spirit.” (Message To The Blackman Page 6)

“Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the clouds, then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has made the ships subservient to you to run their course in the sea by His command, and He has made the rivers subservient to you...And He has made subservient to you the sun and the moon, pursuing their courses; and He has made subservient to you the night and the day...And He gives you all you ask of Him. And if you count Allah’s favours, you will not be able to number them. Surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful.” Holy Qur’an 14:32,33

“...Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the Earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28

TO BE CONTINUED…

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STEP 3: Check Your Understanding The following questions are for discussion at the conclusion of the study session. The remaining questions can be completed at your own pace as you continue your study at home. You can use your book if you need help answering the questions. Write your answers on a sheet of paper.

Questions For Discussion: 1. What is the key to our return to God, Self and Power?

2. What areas of study will help black people gain a better knowledge of self? Explain.

3. What is the “real identity” of the Original People of the Earth? Explain.

4. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that Allah used the history of the work of the God of the

Moon, 66 trillion years ago, to teach us something of ourselves and of our enemy. What was He teaching us about ourseleves? Explain

5. What does the “Fall of Adam” represent?

6. We are likened to the physically dead and our return to civilized thinking is actually considered an impossibility. How is Allah using this so called “impossiblity” to make Himself known?

7. Who are the angels? Why did Allah (God) inform them of His intentions beforehand?

8. The dialogue taking place in Holy Qur’an 2:30 is actually the God, the Ruler, reasoning with the forces within Himself. How does this realate to each human being that decides to do or act on something? Give an example.

9. What is the effect of confusion within self?

10. What is meant by placing “a ruler in the earth”?

11. Why did the angels express anxiety and doubt over the decision made by the Lord of the Worlds? What lessons can we learn from this exchange between Allah and the angels?

12. Why was His Holiness recognized by the angels in this exchange with Allah (God)?

13. What evidence is there that God has indeed placed a ruler in the earth?

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