Nation of Islam First Lady Khadijah Farrakhan Dies at 90

Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and a foundational figure within the organization, died on Saturday, June 27, 2026. She was 90. The Nation of Islam announced her passing in a statement, describing her as a loving wife, mother, and a faithful devoted follower of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Known within the movement as the First Lady, Khadijah Farrakhan was married to Louis Farrakhan for 72 years, after their wedding in 1953. The couple converted to Islam together two years later. She stood beside her husband throughout his rise to lead the Nation of Islam in the early 1980s, raising their nine children from their home in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood and supporting the community from the organization's home base, Mosque Maryam.

Her influence extended beyond her family and the mosque. In 1997, she addressed the Million Woman March in Philadelphia, delivering a message that emphasized family unity and the elevation of women, a philosophy that resonated within broader Black cultural and activist circles. Her life and the couple's long partnership were celebrated last year at a Chicago event honoring Minister Farrakhan's birthday and...