Nation of Islam

The Nation of Islam is an African American religious and social movement founded in Detroit in 1930. It combines Islamic themes with Black nationalism and has developed distinctive teachings and institutions.

Wallace Fard Muhammad: The founder of the Nation of Islam, who taught in Detroit from 1930 until his disappearance in 1934. His teachings and unexplained departure shaped the movement’s founding story.
Islam: A monotheistic religion whose central scripture is the Quran and whose adherents follow the teachings of Muhammad. The Nation of Islam draws on Islamic names, symbols, and religious language.
Malcolm X: An American Muslim minister and civil rights leader who rose to prominence in the Nation of Islam before leaving in 1964. His public break with the movement made its leadership and doctrine national subjects of debate.
Muhammad Speaks: A newspaper founded by the Nation of Islam in 1960 to circulate its views and report on Black life. The newspaper served as a major channel for the movement’s message and political critique.
Sunni Islam: The largest branch of Islam, whose adherents recognize the authority of the Quran and the Sunnah of Muhammad. Warith Deen Mohammed’s reforms moved most followers toward Sunni Islamic belief and practice.
Elijah Muhammad: The Nation of Islam’s leader from 1934 until his death in 1975. He consolidated the movement and expanded its institutions and national reach.
Black theology: Christian and other religious interpretations that center Black experience, liberation, and resistance to racism. It offers a comparison for understanding religion shaped by Black liberation and identity.
Louis Farrakhan: An American religious leader who rebuilt the Nation of Islam after its original organization dissolved in 1975. He restored the movement’s name and leadership after Elijah Muhammad’s death.
Fruit of Islam: The Nation of Islam’s male security and service organization. Its disciplined membership provided security and visible service at movement events.
American Muslim identity: The varied ways Muslims in the United States understand religious belonging and civic life. The movement’s history shaped public debate over what Islam and Muslim identity mean in America.

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