June 21, 2019 will be the 83rd birthday of Imam Muhammad Siddeeq, and we invite you to join us in celebration (time and place TBA) of his life; a life which is full of numerous wonderful encounters and struggles in support of human excellence. His loving wife of 54 years, Sister Fareedah Siddeeq, will also be highly recognized as she has been his confidante, companion and best friend in life and faith.
Muhammad and Fareedah Siddeeq moved their family of 10 children (which later grew to 15 children) to Indianapolis in April of 1981 from Tallahassee, Florida, where they had lived for about five years. His life as a Muslim before Tallahassee was in New York City where he was the director of the largest Islamic school in American history at the University of Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. In New York, Muhammad Siddeeq, then known as “Director Clark,” was responsible for over 1,500 students. At that time he worked directly under Minister Louis Farrakhan for about 10 years.
After the passing of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1975, Muhammad Siddeeq and his family became faithful followers and supporters of Imam Wallace Deen Mohammed (the son of Elijah Muhammad) who guided the Nation of Islam from an American-based nationalistic practice of Islam to the universal practice of Islam as demonstrated by Muslims around the world.
The life and travels of Muhammad Siddeeq, the former Clark Moore, began in Pittsburg in the famous “Hill District” that also produced the likes of jazz artist George Benson. He graduated from Schenley High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania and he has done graduate studies at Howard University.
Muhammad Siddeeq bought to Indianapolis a spirit and zeal that has forever transformed the social, political and religious landscape of our city and state as he quickly involved the local Muslims in community outreach. As a fighter for justice, without hesitation he took up, head-on, issues and social causes that traditionally were conveniently ignored or overlooked by city leaders within and without of the African American community. These fights for justice earned him new friends and enemies but above all — across the board — these struggles garnered him honor and respect from all walks of life that covered multiple generations, races and religions.
He became a very popular teacher in the Indianapolis Public Schools at Arlington and John Marshall as well as other local high school and middle schools, including Park Tudor School. Collegiately, he taught at Ivy Tech Community College and Martin University.
Simultaneously, Muhammad Siddeeq was an imam, an educator, a social activist, a family man and a world traveler who had a seemingly insatiable love for Allah and humanity.
Imam Muhammad Siddeeq is probably best known for his diligent work on the Michael Taylor case which culminated with Michael Taylor’s family winning a successful civil lawsuit. Later Muhammad Siddeeq wrote a book detailing the Michael Taylor case titled, “Black Lives Didn’t Matter When Indianapolis Police Murdered Michael Taylor: Where Are You Daddy?” (Available on Amazon.)
He became the spiritual advisor of boxing champion Mike Tyson beginning with Tyson’s imprisonment in Indiana. Imam Muhammad Siddeeq has also positively touched the lives of thousands of other inmates over his many years of visiting prisons around America.
Muhammad and Fareedah Siddeeq, in addition to being the proud parents of 15 children, they are also the grandparents to well over 60 grandchildren plus additional great-grandchildren.
The Nur-Allah Islamic Center is inviting you to save the date for Friday evening June 21st. The exact time and location for celebrating the life and legacy of Imam Muhammad Siddeeq and his wife Fareedah will be announced in the very near future, in shaa’ Allah (G_d Willing). Stay tuned and tell a friend!
Michael “Mikal” Saahir is the resident Imam of Nur-Allah Islamic Center. He can be reached at nur-allah@att.net or at 317 753-3754.
