Ishmael Muhammad

{{Short description|Son of Elijah Muhammad and Tynnetta Muhammad (born 1964)}}

{{Nation of Islam|Leaders}}

Ishmael Muhammad (born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1964){{cite web|title=Nation of Islam's New Shoes|url=http://newsone.com/22551/exclusive-the-nation-of-islams-new-shoes/|work=NewsOne|date=29 October 2008 |accessdate=11 January 2015}} is an American member of the Nation of Islam, and son of Elijah Muhammad and Tynnetta Muhammad. He is the Nation of Islam national assistant minister to Louis Farrakhan. In 1995, Muhammad was a speaker at the Million Man March.{{cite journal|date=1995-10-16|title=Official Program|publisher=Million Man March|location=Washington, D.C.|page=8}}

Of Elijah Muhammad's 21 children, he is the eldest son of his mother Tynnetta Muhammad.Karl Evanzz, The Messenger, p. 452-454{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/us/26farrakhan.html | work=The New York Times | first=Neil | last=MacFarquhar | title=Nation of Islam at a Crossroad as Leader Exits | date=2007-02-26}}Gardell, Mattias, In the name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Duke University Press, 1996, page 125 He is the Student Minister at Mosque Maryam, the headquarters of the Nation of Islam (NOI).{{cite web|title=The Nation of Islam - Central Region - Chicago, Illinois - Central Regional Headquarters|url=http://www.noi.org/nation_of_islam_regional_links.htm|accessdate=18 June 2013}} Muhammad is also a Council Member and "is sometimes considered the most likely successor" to Louis Farrakhan.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/us/10cncfarrakhan.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Farrakhan Using Libyan Crisis to Bolster His Nation of Islam|work =New York Times |date=2011-04-09 |accessdate=2011-04-11 |first=David |last=Lepeska}}

Muhammad was featured on the Nation of Islam's national stage at the 2013 Holy Day of Atonement event on October 20, at which Muhammad delivered the keynote address in place of Louis Farrakhan who was unable to attend due to illness. Farrakhan's selection of Muhammad to speak in his absence may shed light on the future direction of the group's leadership.{{cite web|title=Farrakhan's Absence From NOI Event Spotlights Possible Successor, Ishmael Muhammad|url=http://blog.adl.org/anti-semitism/farrakhans-noi-event-spotlights-possible-successor-ishmael-muhammad|work=Access ADL|accessdate=24 October 2013|archive-date=21 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421052957/http://blog.adl.org/anti-semitism/farrakhans-noi-event-spotlights-possible-successor-ishmael-muhammad|url-status=dead}} He played a prominent role at the large-scale event accompanying the funeral of his mother in February 2015.[http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_102165.shtml Mother Tynnetta Muhammad - A heartfelt and fitting tribute to a perfect example]

For several decades, Ishmael Muhammad lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico, focusing on religious study, before returning to the NOI headquarters in Chicago. It is speculated that he may become the next leader of the Nation of Islam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.panafricanalliance.com/louis-farrakhan-nation-of-islam/|title=Life After Louis Farrakhan: Who Will Be the Next Leader of the NOI?|last=Malik|first=Asad|date=June 2018|website=www.panafricanalliance.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417045139/https://www.panafricanalliance.com/louis-farrakhan-nation-of-islam/|archive-date=2020-04-17|access-date=|url-status=dead}}