Mother Khadijah Farrakhan Makes Her Transition, Nation Of Islam, Community Says Goodbye

By Nayaba Arinde

Saturday, 27th, June 2026 saw the transition of Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, ‘first lady of Nation of Islam,’ and wife for 72 years of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan. She was 90.

“Mother Khadijah Farrakhan was the wife of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, and the 1st Lady of the Nation of Islam,” Sister Johnna Muhammad, Student Regional Captain at New York’s Muhammad Mosque No. 7., told NJ Urban News. “She was a woman of distinction; she was a devoted woman of faith, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and teacher.”

“Mother Khadijah will forever be cherished and remembered,” said Student Minister Ishmael R. Muhammad, National Assistant Minister and prominent national representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan.
On behalf of The Executive Council of the Nation of Islam he said, “May Allah give His unequaled comfort to the family as we mourn this tremendous loss and lift the family in our prayers and thoughts. Allah, there is no God but He, He gives life and to Him is our eventual return.”

With a red broken heat emoji, having known the family since she was 16 years old, singer Stephanie Mills posted online, “Still no words just keeping our entire family in prayer 🙏🏾 #POWER 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍.”

Born Betsy Ross, on November 26, 1935, Mother Khadijah died seven months after her 90th birthday. 

Louis Farrakhan, 93, (born Louis Eugene Walcott, later Louis X; May 11, 1933), a former calypso singer and musician, joined the Chicago-based Nation of Islam in 1955. Influenced by  Malcolm X, Betsy Ross converted to Islam the same year, and they both took on their new names. They married two years prior in Boston on Sept. 12, 1953. They had nine children. Their eldest son, Louis Farrakhan Jr., died in 2018, and son Joshua Farrakhan died in 2023.

During the controversial and heady times in the sixties, Farrakhan – then Louis X presided over Newark’s Mosque No. 25. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965.

Farrakhan became a prominent minister and ascended to the NOI’s leadership, growing the organization culminating in the estimated two-million-strong Million Man March on Washington in 1995.

Inspired, in 1997, an impressive Khadijah Farrakhan spoke at the Million Woman March in Philadelphia. City officials stated that up to 500,000 packed the mile-long stretch from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She told the crowd of mostly Black women, “A nation can rise no higher than its women… We focus on women, but cannot lose sight that we must rise as a family–men, women and children.”

This weekend the Shura Executive Council issued a statement. “The Honorable Minister LouisFarrakhan with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah informs you that his beloved wife of 72 years, the first lady of the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah has returned to Allah (may Allah be pleased).” The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah, informs you that his beloved wife of 72 years, the First Lady of the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah has returned to Allah (may Allah be pleased).”

Former New York Assemblymembers and City Councilmembers, Farrakhan family friends Charles and Inez Barron told NJ Urban News, “As we mourn the passing of Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, it is with heartfelt condolences that we express our love and support for Minister Louis Farrakhan, and their children. We send our deepest sympathies to the Nation of Islam and the believers.  Not only was she a blessing for her family, but she had a  loving impact all over the nation, and the world. May she rest in peace and paradise with all mighty God Allah for a job well done.”

“Everyone who came in contact with her, fondly referred to her as Mother,” Sister Johnna Muhammad told NJ Urban News, adding that Mother Khadijah shared all her considerable skillsets for the betterment of the community. “She was also a seamstress and an entrepreneur who established the clothing factory Newell Apparel. This clothing factory dressed women from all over the world.  In addition, Mother Khadijah was a mentor who uplifted all women and girls that were blessed to be in her presence. Mother Khadijah constantly sought to improve the lives of others, whether they were male or female.”

As she currently lies in state in Chicago’s Mosque Maryam, Sister Johnna Muhammad concluded, “Mother Farrakhan loved the youth, and she showed her love to them by hosting a children’s village, at the annual Saviours Day convention, where she provided gifts and entertainment for over 500+ children.  Her outreach was not only the Nation of Islam but her outreach stretched far and wide. Mother Khadijah traveled internationally, often accompanying her husband.  Mother Khadijah Farrakhan will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.” 

Mother Khadijah Farrakhan will lie in state, Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 2, at Mosque Maryam at The National Center, 7351 S. Stony Island Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60649, from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The janazah service will be held on Friday, July 3, at Mosque Maryam at 11:00 a.m.

The interment will immediately follow at Oakwood Cemetery, at 1035 E. 67th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637.