This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

November 7,1997	MUSLIM JOURNAL
Jacksonville - City With A Renewed Spirit
Mississippi Governor Accepts Qur’an
By Imam Muhammad A.
Harisuddin “Invite (all) to the Way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious. For thy Lord knows best, who has strayed from His Path and who receives guidance. ” (Qur’an 16:125)
JACKSON, Miss. - Sat., Oct.
4,	1997, marked a new milestone for Al-Islam in Mississippi. Several Muslim brothers and sisters from the Muslim Ameri-
can Society participated in a Republican Party precinct cook-out that featured. Gov. Kirk Fordice as keynote speaker.
Bro. Adib Abdul Mateen, well-known among the party-regu-lars in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and a brother who loves Al-Islam, skillfully arranged the opportunity for the Holy Qur’an to be presented to the Governor. This is a first for the state of Mississippi.
It’s reported in Islamic tradition that after the Treaty of Please turn to page 16
L to R: Imam Harisuddin, Imam A. Haqq and two Republican Party faithfuls enjoying the activities prior to presenting the Qur'an to Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice.
L to R: Imam Abdul Haqq looks on as Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice is presented a copy of the Holy Qur’an by Imam Muhammad Harisuddin.
Muslim Leader Selected To Leadership Jackson Program
By Viola Salaam JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - This past summer, the Jacksonville Masjid of Al-Islam elected Imam Bilal Hasan as its Resident Imam. Imam Hasan was elected by over two-thirds majority of '^e*voters in this Community. _____ vVith this election comes a renewed spirit and determination to propagate the religion of Al-Islam in this growing southern city. Imam Hasan is a very spirited leader who has been in this Muslim Community under the leadership of Imam W. Deen Mohammed for well over 22 years.
Whenever any organization or any organized group of people come into new leadership, it’s inclimbent upon us to learn as muth about that new leader and his ideas or philosophies as possible. By knowing this, you can 'jwhat direction you are headed, and if indeed it is a “safe” direction.
Recently, I did an interview of Imam Hasan to get to know a little more about him and also to ask for his personal opinions on a few topics relevant to the growth of the Jacksonville Masjid Community.
Q: Give us a little history on yourself. How long have you been a Muslim and in this Community?
Imam Hasan: Bismillah. I was born here in Florida and raised from infancy here in Jacksonville. I started hearing the teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad around the age of
15.	It was in the time of the Civil Rights and Black Pride Movements. Later, while attending college, I used to purchase the Muhammad Speaks newspaper and read it thoroughly on the bus ride to and from school.
After leaving school in 1973,1 returned to Jacksonville, married my childhood sweetheart in March 1974, accepted the teachings of the Nation of Islam In Nov., 1974, and the rest is history.
Q: What are your thoughts on the leadership of Imam W. Deen Mohammed?
am Hasan: When I joined tL .'Tation of Islam, I was prepared to be in it for life, even if no changes occurred. In February of 1975, I was preparing to go to a Saviour’s Day Hookup in Miami to hear the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, when the news of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad’s death came over the television news. After that, I was a bit confused as to what to do. I was very saddened by the news, then I thought of prajer. So I prayed as we did in those days.
During that time, I received
no encouragement to read the Qur’an, but we did a lot of talk about the Bible, such as where the Hon. Elijah Muhammad fit into the scriptures. I searched the Bible for an answer to this what seemed like an untimely situation, and I came across the vei'se that read: “After Elijah comes God.”
After that day, I received the news of Imam W. Deen Mohammed’s induction into the top leadership position and his speech to our Community of Muslims. That’s when I concluded that Allah was not returning as a man, but in His true form to us, in the true teachings.... I felt so relieved and invigorated. Ever since then, I have tried to hang on to every word I hear from the Imam and work hard to implement and impart with the knowledge that we receive from him.
Imam Bilal Hasan
I try to read a lot of Qur’an every day. I also read as much Hadith as I get my hands on and also Seerah (History of the Prophet) and other scholarly works (from Muslims and non-Muslims), and I have concluded that Imam W. D. Mohammed is the best mind, the best teacher, in human form since the time of the Prophet (PBUH) and his noble Companions.
Q. What plans/directions do you envision for the Jacksonville Community, and what roles or positions will the women and youth have in this vision?
Imam Hasan: Before I came into this position of Resident Imam, I witnessed the deterioration of a once very strong and vibrant Muslim community. Once it was under the local leadership of Imam Y ahya Abdullah, who now resides in Dallas, Texas. When Imam Abdullah left Jacksonville, the local Muslim community was very strong and vibrant, but throughout the years - time began to take its toll, and one could see the unraveling of this once “close-knit” community.
Today, we are working hard to re-establish that closeness. The
first thing I did when I became Resident Imam was to appoint the previous Resident Imam (Imam Lateef Majied) as Imam over education in our Community. I envision a great system of education in the future of our Jacksonville Community, God Willing, under Imam Majied’s direct leadership.
As for me, my half deals with the Masjid and all that’s included in the Masjid’s function. That is Dawah, social, business, family, etc. Our goal is to work hard to implant strong Islamic influence in the City of Jacksonville and try to make Jacksonville a Muslim town. Now, I know it sounds far-fetched, but then so did Mecca and Medina and its surrounding areas. Now that’s a long way down the road and I may not be here for that, but I pray to Allah that we may be instrumental in setting it up.
Our near future goals are Masjid beautification, Community inclusion, rallying strong support for Imam W.D. Mohammed’s programs and projects, Dawah in the Media, as well as grassroots work in our communities and towns, and much more. In short, I envision long hard work to bring our community in line with the big plan that Imam W. D. Mohammed has for us.
The roles and positions of our sisters (women) and our youth( s) are the same as the men - vital. Already, the majority of this com-munity have pitched in to help each other in our beautification project here at the Masjid. Also, we have had great support, administratively, in organizing our Masjid community. We all play a huge role in this vision.
Q. What are some of your short/long term goals or plans for Dawah?
Imam Hasan: As I mentioned earlier, some things we’ll be working on in Dawah. Our immediate goal is to prepare ourselves physically and materially and be moral examples, while educating ourselves to exemplify the best Islamic spirit that the people can witness. To also work hard to deliver our Islamic philosophy by way of radio, television, and newspapers, and by disseminating reading materials throughout the city. Insha Allah, we will work to prepare a welcoming atmosphere for a visit from Imam W. Deen Mohammed and also other Imams from around the country, as well as from around the globe.
Q. Are there any social/daw-ah/political activities planned for this community in the future?
Please turn to page 25
“Allah hath promised such of you as believe and do good works, that He will surely make them succeed (the present rulers) in the earth even as He caused those who were before them to succeed others. And that He will surely establish for them their religion, which He hath approved for them and will give them in exchange safety after fear. ‘They serve Me. They ascribe nothing as partner unto me.' Those who disbelieve henceforth, they are the miscreants.”(Holy Qur’an 24:55)
JACKSONVILLE. Miss. - As
America and the world prepares to move into the new millennium, members of the Muslim America Society in Jackson, led by Imam Muhammed A. Harisuddin, refuse to be left behind.
This diverse 21st Century movement, which will be led by the best prepared persons in the society, is increasing its momentum. Recently, Imam Harisuddin was nominated along with over 200 other outstanding candidates for 1997/98 class of Leadership Jackson Program.	>
From this pool of excellence, Please turn to page 25