Mourning the Passing of Imam W. Deen Mohammed

We are pausing for one day in our series of inspiring stories from the everyday lives of Muslim men, women and young people to mourn the passing of a spiritual giant within Islam.
   Imam W. Deen Mohammed, who died on Tuesday, was a brave and prophetic force within African-American Muslim communities in moving thousands of people from a version of Islam that was focused on black separatism—to a full embrace of the larger, global community of Muslims.
   This movement took great courage and vision.
   As a religion writer, I met the imam at least a dozen times over the years—and I sat and talked with him in interviews on a number of occasions.
   After more than three decades in journalism, a reporter quickly assesses the characters of men and women we encounter in intimate interviews—and I always walked away impressed with this man’s sincerity, wisdom and steadfast commitment to his vocation of reuniting African-American Muslims with the larger worldwide family of Islam.
   I was impressed with the modesty with which he moved and interacted with other people. He was a famous man and yet I always felt humbly welcomed in his presence. Whatever we were discussing in interviews, I always walked away feeling better about the world—and much of that new optimism was because of the goodness I sensed in his commitment to his life’s mission.
   Over the years, I occasionally heard critics ask why he had not accomplished more in his lifetime, but even such criticism I think is a sign of praise. He was a man of which so much was expected. And, from what I saw of him and his movement—including the character of so many lives he transformed by his example—I would say today: His was a pilgrimage bravely and heroically undertaken.
   His was a long walk finished, today, for the imam. But he leaves behind him a living legacy of compassion in the lives of thousands who he influenced over the years.
   We mourn his passing.
   —David Crumm, Editor of ReadTheSpirit online magazine

   PLEASE — If you have a thought you’d like to express about the passing of this giant — click on the Comment link above and add your thoughts as well.

CARE TO READ MORE?

• Read the Detroit Free Press story by Niraj Warikoo: For years, Niraj Warikoo has been a leading journalist in covering America’s Muslim community. This link featured Niraj’s story late Tuesday night on the imam’s passing.
• Check out Wikipedia’s biography of the imam: When a famous person dies, Wikipedia tends to be updated fairly regularly with helpful links and information.
• Read our earlier story about Maurice El-Amin: This African-American teacher and humanitarian is part of a Muslim family inspired by Imam W.D. Mohammed over the years. In seeing El-Amin’s success, we are seeing Imam Mohammed’s inspiration reflected in the life of one family.