Editing Moorish Science Temple of America

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:320px;"
! colspan="2" | Moorish Science Temple of America
|-
! Family
| New religious movement / African American Islam-influenced movement
|-
! Origin region
| United States
|-
! Founding period
| 1913 CE
|-
! Estimated adherents
| Unknown; active temples and affiliated groups exist.
|}

'''Moorish Science Temple of America''' is a U.S. religious movement founded by Noble Drew Ali teaching that African Americans are of Moorish origin and should reclaim an Islamic-linked identity.

== Overview ==
The Moorish Science Temple of America was founded by Timothy Drew, known as Noble Drew Ali, in Newark, New Jersey, in 1913. Britannica describes it as a U.S. religious movement teaching that Black people were of Moorish origins and had lost their Muslim identity through slavery and segregation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moorish Science Temple of America |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Moorish-Science-Temple-of-America |work=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

== Key beliefs ==

* African Americans are taught to reclaim Moorish identity
* Islam is interpreted through Noble Drew Ali's teachings
* Nationality, self-respect, and moral reform are emphasized
* Jesus, prophets, and sacred history are interpreted through Moorish Science texts
* The movement connects religion, identity, and civic uplift

== Practices ==

* Temple meetings
* Study of the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple
* Moral discipline and community uplift
* Use of Moorish names or nationality language
* Feast and convention gatherings

== Places of worship ==

* Moorish Science temples
* Homes
* Community halls

== Sacred texts ==

* The Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple of America
* Noble Drew Ali's teachings
* Temple constitutions and bylaws

== Holidays and observances ==

* Noble Drew Ali's birthday commemorations
* Movement convention dates
* Islamic-influenced or temple-specific observances

== Branches and related traditions ==

* [[Nation of Islam]] - The Moorish Science Temple influenced later Black Muslim movements.
* [[Islam]] - The movement uses Islamic identity and language while remaining distinct from mainstream Islam.
* [[New Religious Movements]] - It is often studied as a modern American religious movement.

== See also ==

* [[Religion]]
* [[Theology]]
* [[Philosophy of religion]]
* [[New Religious Movements]]

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:Religions]]
[[Category:New Religious Movements]]
[[Category:Abrahamic religions]]