(CHICAGO - NOI.org) - Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, a son of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and a prominent leader in the Muslim world, was embraced with cheers, hugs and kisses Feb. 26 by the son of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, other sons of Elijah Muhammad and 8,000 cheering Muslims at the McCormick Center during the Nation of Islam’s Saviours’ Day ’99 celebration.

The imam joined the Friday Jumu’ah prayer service, a highlight of the three-day weekend event, at the special invitation of Min. Farrakhan in an effort to continue the process of resolving differences between the communities of the followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad since 1975.

During brief remarks, Imam Muhammad said he is praying for the success and good health of Minister Farrakhan, "that he will be around for a long time to help bring us to the right direction, and to the great goal and great destination of being a united ummah (community) on this earth." Min. Farrakhan was unable to attend the event.

Responding later to reporters that his appearance represents reconciliation between his followers and those of Min. Farrakhan, the Imam noted that "the day of Jumu’ah is very special day, the very best day of the year. Our Prophet (Muhammad) said this is one of the two best days of the year, even better than our two Eids (feasts).

"I couldn’t resist coming here knowing that (The Nation of Islam) was observing this day. I haven’t lost my friendship with Minister Farrakhan," he said, adding that the day "Inshallah (God willing) is coming" when he and the Minister will be one.

Introduced by Min. Farrakhan’s son Mustapha, whose eyes began to well upon embracing the imam, the young Farrakhan extended an "invitation of unity and brotherhood to the whole Muslim community."

"As a son of my father, I know he’s very proud this day. On behalf of my father … we extend this invitation of unity and brotherhood to the whole Muslim ummah that wants to see freedom, justice and equality (to all)," he said.

Mustapha Farrakhan noted that the Muhammad and Farrakhan families are united "spiritually as well as physically," referring to the marriages that have occurred between the families of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Min. Farrakhan.

"Allah knew that we would have our differences, but Allah knew that in time we would settle our differences and become one community, and one nation," Ishmael Muhammad, the assistant minister of Mosque Maryam and a son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, told the congregation of Muslims.

"The Honorable Louis Farrakhan wants all of us as Muslims in America to understand our role in the new century. We have seen a century of murder and violence and we have seen a century of persecution of Muslims. But the new century belongs to Islam, the new century belongs to entire submission to the will of Allah (God)."

Imam Muhammad also was embraced by Min. Rasul Muhammad, a son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, and Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, the First Lady of the Nation of Islam.

Muslims from around the world and a broad spectrum of communities attended the Jumu’ah prayer service and witnessed the historic embrace of unity.