Nation of Islam

Outside the Fold

أمة الإسلام

Overview

An African-American political and religious organization founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1930 CE by Wallace Fard Muhammad, who claimed to be Allah incarnate. Its theology bears no relationship to Islamic monotheism: it teaches that white people are a race of devils created by a scientist named Yakub, that Wallace Fard is Allah, that Elijah Muhammad is a prophet, and that black people are the original divine race. Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were both associated with the NOI before leaving it for Ahl us-Sunnah Islam.

Key Beliefs

  • Wallace Fard Muhammad is Allah incarnate
  • Elijah Muhammad is a prophet of Allah
  • White people are genetically engineered 'blue-eyed devils'
  • Black people are the original divine race destined to rule
  • Racial separation as a religious imperative

Scholarly Evaluation

Not Islam. The organization uses Islamic terminology but has no connection to Islamic monotheism, the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or any recognized Muslim tradition. The claim that Wallace Fard is Allah, and that Elijah Muhammad is a prophet, violates both Tawhid (divine unity) and Khatam al-Nubuwwah (seal of prophethood) simultaneously. The racial theology has no basis in Islamic scripture whatsoever. Both Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz) and Imam Warith Deen Mohammed (Elijah Muhammad's son) left the NOI for mainstream Sunni Islam.

Key Figures

  • Wallace Fard Muhammad (founded NOI, claimed to be Allah)
  • Elijah Muhammad (1897–1975 CE — NOI leader, claimed prophethood)
  • Louis Farrakhan (b. 1933 CE — current leader)

Sources

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3455 — no prophet after Muhammad ﷺ
  • Al-Quran 49:13 — the nobility is in taqwa, not race
  • Malcolm X autobiography — his departure from NOI after Hajj

Founder

Wallace Fard Muhammad

Founded

1930 CE