Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Louis Farrakhan and the organisation’s longtime First Lady, has passed away at the age of 90.
The Nation of Islam officially announced her passing on Saturday, stating that she had “returned to Allah.” In a statement shared across the organisation’s platforms, the NOI remembered her as a devoted wife, mother, and faithful follower of the late Elijah Muhammad, who led the group before Farrakhan.
“The council noted: “We thank Allah for the precious life of a loving wife, mother, a faithful, devoted follower of The Honourable Elijah Muhammad. Mother Khadijah will forever be cherished and remembered.”
Khadijah and Louis Farrakhan were married in 1953. The couple converted to Islam two years later, in 1955, after Louis Farrakhan was introduced to the teachings of the organisation.
Throughout their 72-year marriage, she supported her husband as his leadership role expanded within the organisation, officially becoming the First Lady of the Nation of Islam when he assumed leadership in the early 1980s. She was also a prominent speaker at the Million Women March held in 1997.
The couple shared nine children. No cause of death has been made public, and the organisation stated that details regarding funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
