The Meaning of FOI

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

What is the meaning of F.O.I.? The Fruit of Islam. The name given to the military training of the men who belong to Islam in North America. Military training implies tactics. Military training implies maneuvers. Military training implies going behind the lines in enemy territory. Military training implies establishing a beachhead in enemy territory and then proceeding to take control. Military training implies WAR.

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Now, brothers, you are given military drill, face movements, close order drill. What is this for? I don't want the FOI to get in their minds that this is an army like the armies of the world.

It is a superior army, with a superior mission. Though few in number, it makes no difference. It is the power that backs us that makes us powerful. Israel is small but as long as she is backed by America, she becomes mighty. Well, we may be small but as long as we are backed by Allah and the Messenger we are Mighty. So we are called the "Mighty FOI."

We must see what kind of concept we as Fruit of Islam should have in our minds about this army that we have joined.

Those who think in terms of any army running with rifle practice, an army that knows their M-16, an army that studies maneuvers in killing and what-not No, I am sorry. This is not that kind of army. I am not saying that we won't have to someday or under some circumstances deal with an enemy and if necessary destroy.

But you must look at the first Fruit, the first Fruit whom we now know as the Christ. One of the titles of Christ is "The Saviour." Another title of Christ is "The Redeemer." Another title of Christ is, "Christ, the Lord." Another title of Christ is "Christ, the King." Well, since we are subjects of the King-or as the scripture calls us, the body of the Christ-then the body does not make the decision, Christ makes the decision. He gives the direction. He's the sole boss.

Well, if Christ is "The Saviour," that's the number one title of Christ.

If the HEM who was among us, laying a foundation for us to work today, has now left our midst but deposited in us his word and the same course of study that Master Fard Muhammad gave him, then why should we study'? It is because you must study to save and deliver the people.

On Saviour's Day 1981, I said, and I am quoting now, "It is written in the scriptures, 'I will send Saviours, plural, after them.' " I will send Saviours, plural, after them. Who is the "I?" The "I" who is doing the sending is the one who is the Christ. He says He raises up disciples and He sends them. He is raised, and then He becomes a sender of Saviours. That's heavy, brother. A Saviour. A Saviour.

Pick up your dictionary and look up the word Saviour-one who saves. And when you look in the mirror at yourself, look at yourself good, and say to yourself, "I am sent as a Saviour of my black brothers and sisters. I am a Saviour. I am a Deliverer. I am a Redeemer."

Think about those words. You and I are acting under the Saving Grace and Power of the Saviour-The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad who is acting under the power of the Lord of the Worlds. So we got power to save. How do you know we got power? Because the word of God coming through me saved you. And the word of God coming through you will save anybody who will listen to you if you will study and qualify yourself for your work as a Saviour of our people.

So the army that is going out there, is not an army of gangsters. They are not going out there with the face of a thug. See, if you come to me with that kind of expression, I'd run and hide, because you don't look like a Saviour.

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The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said put on a white shirt, and put on a tie, I don't care if you only have one suit, beloved. Let it be clean! Even if it is a mismatch; let it be clean! Go clean among your people. Because clean is the opposite of dirty. Dressed-up is the opposite of undressed. You are going to a savage people who are undressed and dirty and if you go clean and dressed up you are opposite them and it sets up an immediate attraction; for opposite attracts. All praise is due to Allah.

... if you come with a peaceful expression, if you come with a heart filled with love for your people, who have never been loved by anybody except God and His Apostle, then you come in the Spirit of a Saviour. You come in the spirit of a Redeemer.

A Redeemer is one who is willing to pay a price to redeem someone or something that he loves. If we love our people, then we have come forward to pay whatever price is absolutely necessary to redeem all of our people from the grip of Satan.