There is something about a Muslim woman. She has a beauty that seems to radiate from within – a quiet, unadorned beauty. She is self-assured and confident.
Sister Lisa Muhammad doesn’t speak for all Muslim women, but she manifests all those traits, so we asked her to speak for herself. Where does that inner-glow that translates to an outer beauty come from? Why do you hide your hair and your legs, yet manage to still appear so beautiful?
Sister Lisa Muhammad literally grew up in the Nation of Islam faith. Her father, Brother Yusef Muham is now deceased, was a minister under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and her mother, Sister Virginia D Muhammed served in various roles during the time of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and became an active member, along with her husband before his passing, in leadership roles under the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Sister Lisa and her husband, Brother Darryl Muhammad, have a beautiful daughter, Madinah Nafirah. Sister Lisa explains that her daughter’s middle name, Nafirah, means helper, intentionally given that name as a reminder that she is here to serve Allah and her fellow men and women. Nafirah graduated from Muhammed University of Islam at the age of 15 and received her undergrad degree from UIC at the age of nineteen. She is currently about to be a second-year graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is earning her master’s in public health.
Sister Lisa is a seasoned youth development professional, having been working in youth development for forty plus years. She has served in various capacities at Muhammed University of Islam (MUI), including Dean of Girls, Classroom Instructor for all grades (except fourth and fifth),and Educational Consultant. She is the Academic Coordinator and the Education-to-Careers Coordinator, in addition to providing counseling and guidance, and coordinating the parent engagement activities. “And anything else that is needed,” she adds. Anything else includes substituting as a classroom instructor when needed, and providing coaching and curriculum development guidance for the MUI teaching staff; all while currently pursuing her master’s in education. She states that her ultimate goal is to open an international ambassador’s training program for young people with the focus on character and leadership.
Sister Lisa states unequivocally, that “Everything I do and have done so far has been a result of my rearing as a Muslim child, a Muslim young adult and now a seasoned Muslim.”
An Indianapolis, Indianna native, Sister Lisa came to Chicago, thanks to Brother Leonard Muhammad, to help with the reopening of the Nation Of Islam’s Salaam Restaurant. In 1994, she was actively involved with the Million Man March.
When asked why Muslim women always wear head coverings, she reminds us once again that she cannot speak for all Muslim women. “I wear a covering on my head,” she stated, “because as a Muslim woman I was taught that my beauty and adornment is to be kept unseen except to those who are supposed to be able to see it, and that means my husband and, of course gender specific company, as in an all- women setting.”
“In terms of our long skirts,” she continues, “length reflects and represents modesty. If you look at images of women of faith, they are covered.” In the Nation of Islam there are classes on how to be beautiful, how to be feminine and how to be modest.
Along the way, in her journey, there were the women who inspired her, who motivated her, who taught her, and who were always there for her.
“The first is my mother,” she tells us. Her mother taught and motivated her in the Muslim way. “I give thanks for my mother, because if it were not for her, I would not even be alive to share with you my thoughts.”
She continues, “After my mother I would have to say, all of those women who guided my mother through the Muslim Girls Training General Civilization Class (MGT).” The Sister who trained her mother was Portia Pasha. Then Sister Aminah Rasul. She also is grateful for the guidance of Sister Betsy Jean Farrakhan and Sister Donna Farakhan whom she loves deeply. “She is my big sister,” Sister Lisa says, “And I have had the blessing and the privilege to work with her and learn from her for decades.” She says of Dr. Minister Ava Muhammad, who has passed on, “She was amazing, she was one of the best, if not the best representative that I personally would say Minister Louis Farrakhan has had. Then there is Sister Aisha Muhammad who was at one point serving as national MGT Captain, and whom Sister Lisa worked with and served under her leadership. Within the current administration is Sister Alice V Muhammad, whom she describes as an amazing sister, responsible for the training of women in the Midwest and Central Region, and the National MGT Captain, Naima Muhammed. “Those are two other women, among the many others whom I love and admire and pray for their successes,” she says.
When all is said and done, it is her faith; her commitment to the teachings of Allah under the guidance of the NOI that inspires her inner glow from whence emanates the outer beauty of this Muslim woman.
