Abdul Alim Musa facts for kids

Imam Abdul Alim Musa (born February 6, 1945, as Clarence Reams) was a Muslim American activist and speaker. He passed away on November 25, 2022. Musa was the founder and leader of an organization called As-Sabiqun.

Early Life and Journey

Abdul Alim Musa was born in Arkansas in 1945. He spent his teenage years in Oakland, California during the 1960s. During this time, he met H. Rap Brown, who later became known as Imam Jamil Al-Amin and converted to Islam.

After some time, Musa traveled to Algeria. There, he met leaders from the Black Panther Party who were living outside the U.S., such as Eldridge Cleaver. When he returned to the United States, he turned himself in and was held in a prison called United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth.

While in prison, Musa became a follower of orthodox Sunni Islam. He supported the Iranian Revolution that happened in 1979. He believed this event would help bring about a new era for Islam.

Visits to Iran and Unity Efforts

After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Musa openly showed his support for the new Islamic republic and its leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. Starting in the early 1980s, he visited Iran many times. He went as a representative for American Muslims. In February 2013, Musa attended a conference called the International Conference on Hollywoodism. He spoke about how Muslims were shown in U.S. films.

During these years, Musa connected with many Muslim leaders. These leaders included both Sunni and Shia Muslims. He strongly believed that unity was very important for Islamic movements to succeed. He often referred to the writings of thinkers like Malcolm X, Ayatollah Khomeini, Sayyid Qutb, and Kalim Siddiqui. New members of his group were encouraged to study these thinkers. They also attended daily classes on Islamic studies, Arabic, hadith, and the Quran.

Activism and Public Statements

Musa was known for his strong opinions and public speeches. He often spoke about what he saw as problems in society and how Islam could offer solutions. He believed that the United States was facing challenges. He suggested that people should focus on good deeds and prayer.

In January 2010, during a discussion on Iranian Press TV, Musa spoke about American history. He said that "The American history is a history of robbing and stealing." He believed that the U.S. had a pattern of taking advantage of others.

Islamic Institute for Understanding Islam

In 2011, Musa founded an organization called the Islamic Institute of Counter-Zionist American Psychological Warfare. This institute aimed to help people understand Islam better. It also sought to correct misunderstandings about Muslims.

The institute's goal was to "counter the efforts of the enemies of Islam." It wanted to show that Islam and Muslims are not a threat to global peace. It also aimed to analyze how certain groups might influence media and economics. This was to help people see different perspectives.