Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of Minister Louis Farrakhan and widely known as the First Lady of the Nation of Islam, has died at 90.
The Nation of Islam announced her passing Saturday, sharing that Mother Khadijah had “returned to Allah.” In its statement, the organization honored her as a “loving wife, mother, a faithful devoted follower of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad,” adding that she “will forever be cherished and remembered.”
The Honorable Minister @LouisFarrakhan with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah informs you that his beloved wife of 72 years, the First Lady of the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah has returned to Allah (may Allah be pleased). pic.twitter.com/W9K4jG6v4E
— The Nation of Islam (@OfficialNOI) June 27, 2026
Funeral plans have not yet been released. The organization said, “Funeral (Janazah) services will be sent as soon as it’s available.” A cause of death has also not been publicly revealed.
Mother Khadijah’s passing marks the end of a decades-long love story and spiritual partnership. She and Louis Farrakhan married in 1953 and remained together for 72 years. Two years after their wedding, the couple converted to Islam after Farrakhan was introduced to the teachings of the Nation of Islam while he was still pursuing music.
Born Betsy Ross, Mother Khadijah later became a central figure in Farrakhan’s personal and public life as he rose through the ranks of the Nation of Islam. When Farrakhan became one of the organization’s most prominent leaders in the early 1980s, she stood beside him as the First Lady of the Nation of Islam.
While much of her influence was described as quiet and behind the scenes, Mother Khadijah was also present during major Black cultural and political moments. In 1997, she spoke at the Million Woman March in Philadelphia, a historic gathering focused on unity, healing, family, and empowerment among Black women. The moment came two years after Farrakhan organized the Million Man March in Washington, D.C.
Together, Louis and Khadijah Farrakhan had nine children. Eight are still living, while their son Louis Farrakhan Jr. died in 2018.
Her life and legacy were deeply tied to faith, family, and service. Supporters remembered her as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and spiritual figure whose presence helped anchor one of the most recognizable families in the Nation of Islam.
