Nation of Islam

Nation of Islam
Family	New religious movement / African American Islam-influenced movement
Origin region	United States
Founding period	1930 CE
Estimated adherents	Unknown; membership estimates vary widely.

Nation of Islam is an African American religious and political movement founded in Detroit in 1930, combining Islamic vocabulary, Black nationalist teachings, discipline, and social reform.

Overview

The Nation of Islam was founded in 1930 and became one of the most influential African American religious movements of the 20th century. Britannica describes it as combining elements of traditional Islam with Black nationalist ideas and emphasizing racial unity, self-help, and strict discipline.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Key beliefs

Black self-knowledge, unity, and discipline are central themes
Teachings use Islamic vocabulary but differ sharply from mainstream Sunni and Shia Islam
Elijah Muhammad's teachings remain central in many branches
Some teachings include distinctive cosmology, including the Mother Plane or Wheel in later Nation of Islam discourse
The movement has been both influential and controversial because of racial and political teachings

Practices

Mosque or temple meetings
Study of Elijah Muhammad's writings
Dietary and moral discipline
Community businesses and schools
Public lectures and organizing

Places of worship

Mosques or temples
Community centers
Homes

Sacred texts

Message to the Blackman in America
How to Eat to Live
The Holy Quran in some use
Nation of Islam newspapers and speeches

Holidays and observances

Saviours' Day
Holy Day of Atonement in some contexts
Movement-specific commemorations

Branches and related traditions

Islam - The Nation of Islam uses Islamic vocabulary but is doctrinally distinct from mainstream Islam.
Moorish Science Temple of America - An earlier African American Islam-influenced movement.
New Religious Movements - The Nation of Islam is commonly studied as a modern religious movement.

References