Nation of Islam first lady Khadijah Farrakhan dies at 90
Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and the organisation’s First Lady, has died at the age of 90.
TMZ reports that the Nation of Islam announced her passing on Saturday in a statement that opened with a verse from the Quran before saying that Mother Khadijah Farrakhan had “returned to Allah.”
The organisation remembered her as “a loving wife, mother, a faithful devoted follower of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” who led the Nation of Islam before Louis Farrakhan.
No cause of death was disclosed, and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. The Nation of Islam said it will provide updates as they become available.
Louis and Khadijah Farrakhan were married in 1953 and converted to Islam two years later after Louis was introduced to the teachings of the Nation of Islam by fellow musician Rodney Smith.
Khadijah remained by her husband’s side throughout his rise within the organisation and became its First Lady after he assumed leadership in the early 1980s. She also addressed the Million Women March in 1997.
The couple shared nine children, eight of whom survive her.
