Jabir Herbert Muhammad, son of Nation of Islam founder and former Muhammad Ali manager, dies at 79
Services planned for Wednesday and Saturday in Chicago
Jabir Herbert Muhammad son of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad and former manager of boxing great Muhammad Ali died Monday afternoon at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center.
Mr. Muhammad, 79, had undergone open-heart surgery last week, said Joseph Morris, a Muhammad family attorney.
(Brian Jackson/Sun-Times file)
The longtime South Side resident managed Ali's boxing career from 1966 till 1981 and continued to work for him after he left boxing, until 1991 a relationship that led to legal battles between the two. Mr. Muhammad told the Sun-Times last year that he and Ali had settled their court disputes and remained friends.
In recent years, Mr. Muhammad was involved in a range of business interests.
Mr. Muhammad was an adviser to his father, who was the leader of the Nation of Islam until his death in 1975, and was the organization's business manager. He also oversaw the Nation of Islam newspaper Muhammad Speaks.
"He was a man who loved his fellow man, and he developed some very meaningful and positive relationships worldwide," said Mr. Muhammad's oldest son, Elijah Muhammad III. "He was a devout Muslim and will be truly missed by all his family and those who knew him."
Mr. Muhammad had been in the news last year because of a lawsuit he filed against convicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko to stay in his South Side mansion, a home built by the late Elijah Muhammad.
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times last year, Mr. Muhammad said Rezko had embezzled him out of ownership of the home, even though he and his wife never moved out. They sued Rezko and Dr. Paul Ray, who currently owns the house. The suit is pending.
Rezko is a former campaign fund-raiser for Sen. Barack Obama, Gov. Blagojevich and others and was convicted in federal court in June of wide-ranging corruption involving state deals. Rezko and Mr. Muhammad had been longtime friends and business partners before their falling-out.
A Muslim prayer service for Mr. Muhammad is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Masjid al-Faatir, 1200 E. 47th St., followed by interment. Mr. Muhammad had donated the land for the mosque.
A community memorial service is being planned for Saturday.
His survivors include his wife, Amenah Antonia Muhammad; 14 children, Elijah Muhammad III, Isa Muhammad Ali, Safiyya Rahmah, Alif Muhammad, Mourad Muhammad, Gina Driskell, Omar Muhammad, Jabir Muhammad, Samirah Muhammad, Saeedah Hamahouallah, Salimah Zahid, Samiha Muhammad, Saniyyah Sepanik and Zarinah Muhammad; 45 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being made through Ali of Cedar Park Funeral Home in Calumet Park.