A Rejected Stone
Experience a profound message from Student In The Ministry Joseph Muhammad and keynote Student Minister Rodney Muhammad from their Sunday, June 16, 2025 lecture. This address explores the spiritual journey of self-acceptance and nation-building in the face of historical rejection.
Student In The Ministry Joseph Muhammad opens by expressing gratitude to Allah and His messengers, especially Master Fard Muhammad, who came personally to correct the “horrible and deplorable” condition of Black men and women in North America. He highlights the pivotal role of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Minister Louis Farrakhan in delivering “unadulterated truth” that empowers the Nation of Islam to remain “the freest little tiny nation in America and on the planet”. Joseph Muhammad emphasizes valuing oneself, “staying the course” in spiritual growth, and the transformative power of “self-examine, self-analyze, and…self-correct” to combat internal conflicts like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which he contrasts with temporary “patent medication”. He closes by sharing the “refuge prayer” as a divine solution to personal struggles.
Keynote Student Minister Rodney Muhammad delivers a powerful message centered on “The Rejected Stone” from Matthew 21. He asserts that Black people in America are this “rejected stone,” having faced systemic rejection of their humanity, rights, history, and contributions, even being deemed “3/5ths of a man”. He explains that this social rejection deeply impacts emotional and physical health, leading to early death, aggression, violence, depression, anxiety, and poor impulse control. Rodney Muhammad challenges the “sick” pursuit of acceptance from the “jailer, rapist, and deceiver,” instead advocating for a focus on divine guidance and “thinking right,” which he calls “medicine”. He connects this “stone” to the vision in Daniel, where a “stone cut out without hands” (Master Fard Muhammad’s word) destroys oppressive kingdoms and establishes God’s kingdom of peace. He positions Minister Louis Farrakhan as “the stone of stumbling” for those who reject truth and a “rock and foundational stone of a new kingdom” for believers. The minister stresses that Black people must “outgrow” their former oppressors by reclaiming their God, religion, and self-identity, achieving self-sufficiency in all areas of life, and embracing true knowledge that stretches the mind beyond its “original dimensions”. He invites attendees to commit to Minister Farrakhan’s teachings for 90 days to witness personal transformation. The lecture underscores the critical importance of literacy as a path to freedom, warning that illiteracy perpetuates enslavement.
