The Nation of Islam

☪️ Religious Movement

The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930. Characterized by its unique theological tenets and commitment to Black nationalism, the NOI focuses on the African diaspora, particularly African Americans. While utilizing Islamic terminology and identifying as Islamic, its doctrines diverge significantly from orthodox Islamic traditions. Scholars of religion typically classify it as a new religious movement.

✊🏾 Black Nationalism and Separatism

A core tenet of the NOI is Black nationalism, advocating for the economic self-sufficiency and political separation of African Americans. The organization campaigns for the establishment of an independent African American nation-state, viewing the white-dominated society of the United States as inherently oppressive. This separatist stance has historically positioned the NOI apart from mainstream civil rights movements advocating for integration.

🚀 Millenarianism and Spaceships

The NOI possesses a distinct millenarian tradition, anticipating a future apocalyptic event. Central to this eschatology is the belief in a large spaceship, referred to as the "Mother Plane" or "Mother Ship," which is prophesied to return to overthrow the current world order and establish a utopia. This element has led some scholars to draw parallels with UFO religions.

👤 Divine Nature of Allah

The NOI teaches that Allah is not an incorporeal spiritual entity but a physical being, specifically a black man. This anthropomorphic view posits a succession of mortal Allahs, with Wallace Fard Muhammad identified as the latest. These divine figures are believed to possess immense power and wisdom, ruling for cyclical periods.

🧬 The Myth of Yakub

A central narrative is the myth of Yakub, a black scientist who, through selective breeding over centuries on the island of Patmos, allegedly created the white race. This race is depicted as inherently flawed, lacking divinity, and prone to violence and deceit—a concept often referred to as "tricknology." This myth serves as a foundational element of the NOI's cosmology and racial ideology.

🌌 Cosmogony and Creation

The NOI's cosmology posits a universe originating from darkness, with the first Allah creating the Sun, planets, and the "Original" or "Asiatic" race approximately 76 trillion years ago. This race, described as divine and possessing psychic abilities, is believed to be the progenitor of all people of color. The creation of the moon is attributed to a renegade god-scientist's attempt to destroy Earth.

❓ Relationship to Islam

While the NOI identifies as Islamic and incorporates elements like Arabic prayers and Islamic terminology, its theology significantly deviates from mainstream Sunni or Shia Islam. Key differences include the anthropomorphic nature of God, the divinity of Fard Muhammad, the rejection of Muhammad as the final prophet, and the absence of the Five Pillars of Islam as typically understood. Mainstream Muslims generally view the NOI as outside the fold of orthodox Islam.

✝️ Critique of Christianity

The NOI views Christianity as a tool of white supremacy, used historically to subjugate black people. Its teachings often critique Christian doctrines, including the nature of Jesus, the virgin birth, and the concept of heaven, presenting them as constructs designed to maintain white dominance and pacify the oppressed.

✨ Inner Divinity and Self-Knowledge

Reflecting a common theme in Black-oriented new religious movements, the NOI emphasizes the inherent divinity within humanity, particularly within black people. The concept of "knowledge of self" is crucial for adherents to realize their inner godliness and potential psychic abilities, challenging notions of inherent inferiority.

👨🏾‍🔬 Yakub's Experiments

The myth of Yakub, detailed in Elijah Muhammad's Message to the Blackman, describes Yakub as a black scientist who, exiled to Patmos, conducted a selective breeding program over centuries. This process aimed to create a distinct race by killing darker infants and breeding lighter-skinned offspring, ultimately resulting in the white race.

😈 The White Race as "Devil"

The NOI teaches that the white race, as a product of Yakub's experiments, is inherently degenerate, sub-human, and prone to violence and deceit—qualities encapsulated by the term "devil." This narrative forms the basis for the NOI's critique of white supremacy and its call for racial separatism.

🤫 Secret Knowledge

The NOI claims that senior white Freemasons possess knowledge of the white race's origins through Yakub's experiments. This alleged secret knowledge is presented as evidence of a long-standing conspiracy by the white establishment to maintain dominance over people of color.

🤝🏾 Unity and Identity

Black unity is a foundational principle of the NOI ideology. The organization strives to instill a positive self-identity in African Americans, counteracting internalized notions of white superiority. The NOI promotes a cosmology where the black race is considered superior and divinely chosen.

🏞️ Call for a Separate Nation

The NOI advocates for Black separatism, rejecting racial integration. It calls for the establishment of a sovereign African American nation-state, either within the United States or elsewhere, with reparations for centuries of slavery and unpaid labor. This stance contrasts with the non-violent integrationist approach of the mainstream Civil Rights Movement.

🌍➡️🇺🇸 Diaspora Focus

While acknowledging ties to Africa, the NOI's primary focus is on the African diaspora in the Americas. Elijah Muhammad emphasized the responsibility towards African Americans in North America, viewing the continent of Africa itself as less significant than the diaspora's immediate struggle for liberation and self-determination.

🚫 Condemnation of Same-Sex Relationships

The Nation of Islam strictly condemns same-sex relationships as immoral. This stance has led to accusations of homophobia, particularly concerning the exclusion of gay men from events like the Million Man March. The organization promotes heterosexual monogamy and discourages premarital sexual activity.

💔 Interracial Relationships

The NOI discourages relationships between black members and white individuals, believing such unions emasculate black men and perpetuate racial division. While marriages to other people of color (Native Americans, Latinos) are accepted, interracial relationships with whites are considered taboo.

🗣️ Controversial Statements

Certain NOI figures, including Louis Farrakhan and Khalid Abdul Muhammad, have made controversial statements, including accusations of antisemitism and conspiracy theories linking Jewish people to societal ills and the drug trade. These statements have drawn significant criticism from various civil rights and religious organizations.

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