Saviours' Day
Encyclopedia
Saviours' Day is a holiday
of the Nation of Islam
commemorating the birth of its founder, Master Wallace Fard Muhammad
, February 26, 1877. It was established by Elijah Muhammad
.
The Community of Imam
Warith Deen Mohammed (American Society of Muslims
) and the Nation of Gods and Earths observe a similarly named Saviors Day celebration which each organization observes on the last weekend in the month of February. All of these different versions of Saviours' Day are hybrids of the Official Nation of Islam
observance of Saviour's Day, which is always on February 26th and celebrates the birthday of Master Fard Muhammad whom members of the Nation Of Islam believe is Allah in Person.
Warith Deen Mohammed (son of Elijah Muhammad) changed the name of the celebration to Survival Day in 1976 and then to Ethnic Survival Day from 1979 to 1980 and made it a week long celebration. The change formed part of his rejection of his father's portrayal of W.D. Fard as a divine savior. Warith Deen Mohammed eventually discontinued the celebration of Survival Day for his community and eventually returned to the celebration of Saviours' Day with the emphasis being on the history of the Nation of Islam and Elijah Muhammad and not W. D. Fard. Warith Deen Mohammed re-instituted Saviours' Day for his community on Feb 26, 2000, after joining the Nation of Islam's Saviours' Day that year.
Louis Farrakhan
reconvened Saviours' Day in 1981 when he reestablished the Nation of Islam under his leadership. Under Farrakhan's leadership, the annual commemoration has become a three-day gathering with speakers, seminars and workshops.
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
of the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
commemorating the birth of its founder, Master Wallace Fard Muhammad
Wallace Fard Muhammad
Wallace Fard Muhammad was a minister and founder of the Nation of Islam. He established the Nation of Islam's first mosque in Detroit, Michigan in 1930, and ministered his distinctive religion there for three years, before mysteriously disappearing in June 1934. He was succeeded by his follower...
, February 26, 1877. It was established by Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad was an African American religious leader, and led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975...
.
The Community of Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
Warith Deen Mohammed (American Society of Muslims
American Society of Muslims
The American Society of Muslims was a predominantly African-American association of Muslims which was the direct descendent of the original Nation of Islam. It was created by Warith Deen Mohammed after he assumed leadership of the Nation of Islam upon the death of his father Elijah Muhammad. Imam W...
) and the Nation of Gods and Earths observe a similarly named Saviors Day celebration which each organization observes on the last weekend in the month of February. All of these different versions of Saviours' Day are hybrids of the Official Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
observance of Saviour's Day, which is always on February 26th and celebrates the birthday of Master Fard Muhammad whom members of the Nation Of Islam believe is Allah in Person.
Warith Deen Mohammed (son of Elijah Muhammad) changed the name of the celebration to Survival Day in 1976 and then to Ethnic Survival Day from 1979 to 1980 and made it a week long celebration. The change formed part of his rejection of his father's portrayal of W.D. Fard as a divine savior. Warith Deen Mohammed eventually discontinued the celebration of Survival Day for his community and eventually returned to the celebration of Saviours' Day with the emphasis being on the history of the Nation of Islam and Elijah Muhammad and not W. D. Fard. Warith Deen Mohammed re-instituted Saviours' Day for his community on Feb 26, 2000, after joining the Nation of Islam's Saviours' Day that year.
Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. is the leader of the African-American religious movement the Nation of Islam . He served as the minister of major mosques in Boston and Harlem, and was appointed by the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, before his death in 1975, as the National Representative of...
reconvened Saviours' Day in 1981 when he reestablished the Nation of Islam under his leadership. Under Farrakhan's leadership, the annual commemoration has become a three-day gathering with speakers, seminars and workshops.