Visiting Imam W. Deen Mohammed, son of the Nation of Islam?s Elijah Muhammed brought a message of unity to local Muslims when he spoke at the Masjid yesterday.

Conducting the prayer service at the local mosque, the Imam said that in the US many people were losing their children to corruption and self destruction and that through a return to faith ?we will come to moral light?.

And he stressed that Muslims should be willing to build partnerships with leaders of other faiths, ?to address the condition of life?.

?If all citizens of their countries support the best then they contribute to the betterment and stability of their countries,? he said. ?Look for the best, join with the best and work with the best of all faiths. We Muslims cannot do it alone.?

Imam Muhammed warned that ?the life we all want is threatened by secularism? but was confident that things can work out for the best.

?If we work hard, we can have an ethical world,? he said.

In a private meeting with the Imam said that he truly believes the day has arrived when people of all religious persuasions can live together peacefully ?and advance the good of all?. Asked if he had any specific advice for combating the rise in crime on the Island, he said: ?I would invite all the Imams in Bermuda to work on health and safety in the interest of families.? And he explained that according to Muslim teaching, God favours families. He again stressed the importance of banding together with those of other faiths in an effort to fight crime. ?We are a minority and we need to co-operate with the majority,? he said. And he said that in the US many Muslim families were now having to grapple with their children getting involved in crime and drugs. ?In New York City Muslim children are actually killing each other,? he said. ?This actually hurts the parents more than it hurts the children, the suffering they see their children endure over drug addiction and how it affects their minds.?

At the prayer service he said that freedom was a good an important thing to have. although it also carried with it the freedom to be sinful. ?Be righteous,? he said, ?and you can have a good life.?

?We can?t be citizens and not be committed to good Government,? he said.

?Be committed to good Government even if you don?t like the Government.?