What is The Nation of Islam?
The Nation of Islam is a sect of Islam that was created in 1930 by Wallace Fard Muhammad. He claimed to be a representation of “God in the flesh”. He mysteriously vanished in 1934 though, just 4 years after creating the Nation of Islam.
He was succeeded by Elijah Muhammad, as he claimed to be a prophet and messenger of God. Elijah Muhammad taught his followers that white people, or “but-eyed devils” as he called them, were created over 6,500 years ago by a black scientist named Yakub in a rebellion against Allah.
Upon Elijah Muhammads death in 1975, his son Warith Been Mohammad became his successor. Warith attempted to align the sect to the beliefs of sunni Islam, but his efforts were stopped by Louis Farrakhan, a protege of Elijah Muhammad, who quickly restored the original message of the group. Louis Farrakhan still runs to group to this day.
What's wrong with The Nation of Islam?
Let’s look into and correct the many contradictions this sects has with the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
First, this group claims that Wallace Fard Muhammad is “Allah in the flesh”. This is shirk, as it is associating partners with Allah.
"You ˹alone˺ we worship and You ˹alone˺ we ask for help."
"Say: “He is Allah, the One and Unique, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”"
Second, this group claims that Elijah Muhammad is a prophet and messagee of Allah. This is simply false, as it says in the Quran that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the final prophet and the seal of the prophets.
"Muḥammad is not the father of any of your men, but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things."
Finally, this group claims that white people were created over 6,500 years ago by a black scientists named Yakub in a rebellion against Allah. Their belief system rests the whole theory of black supremacy and white inferiority. This goes against the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
"O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware."
Final Note
We’ve established that some of the beleifs of the Nation of Islam do not align with the Quran & Surah. Some beliefs are based Shirk, as it associates partners with Allah and goes against the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Please don’t forget that the shirk seen in this sect could take its followers out of the fold of Islam.
We are all Muslim, do not separate yourselves into sects and “do not commit excess in your religion” Quran 4:171. Keep it simple and follow in the footsteps of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.