October 16, 2026

Dear Believers, Friends & Fellow Students,
As-Salaam Alaikum!

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the Million Man March: Holy Day of Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility. It was a day called by God through His servant, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. On that day we were given guidance and instructions that, if followed, would bring us into Perfect Union with Allah (God) and with each other.

His message 31 years ago is even more important today, because it carries the same purpose as our course of study, Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development. The pledge given that day calls each of us to improve ourselves spiritually, morally, mentally, socially, politically and economically for the benefit of ourselves, our families and our people. The Eight Steps of Atonement follow that same path: pointing out the wrong, acknowledgment, confession, repentance, atonement, forgiveness, reconciliation and Perfect Union. They begin with honest work on the self and end in union with Allah (God) and with each other.

Last week we reflected on Study Guide 18: Rising Above Emotion Into The Thinking of God. Every step of atonement requires us to rise above emotion: to point out a wrong without malice, to admit our own wrongs without defensiveness, and to forgive from the heart, not only from the lips. This week we will study all eight steps and begin to explore what makes it so difficult for us to follow the process that leads to Perfect Union with Allah (God) and with each other.

May Allah continue to bless us with Love and the Light of Understanding!

Assignment:
Read & Discuss:

Please read Excerpt from The Historic Million Man March Address: Toward a Perfect Union

https://new.finalcall.com/2025/10/20/the-historic-million-man-march-address-toward-a-perfect-union/

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is the first step of atonement so difficult?
2. What does repentance mean?
3. What does repentance look like?
4. Why is repentance so important to God?