Elijah Muhammad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elijah Muhammad
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Elijah Muhammad speaking in 1964
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| Leader of the Nation of Islam | |
| In office 1934–1975 |
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| Preceded by | Wallace Fard Muhammad |
| Succeeded by | Warith Deen Mohammed |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elijah Robert Poole
October 7, 1897 Sandersville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 1975 (aged 77) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | at least 23 (8 with Evans, 15 with others), including Jabir, Warith, and Akbar |
| Occupation | Leader of the Nation of Islam |
Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, 1897 – February 25, 1975) was an important American religious leader. He led the Nation of Islam (NOI) from 1934 until he passed away in 1975. Muhammad was also a teacher and guide for famous people like Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, and his son, Warith Deen Mohammed.
In the 1930s, Elijah Muhammad helped build the Nation of Islam. This group started with the ideas of Wallace Fard Muhammad. It taught pride, encouraged people to build their own businesses, and supported separate communities for African Americans. Elijah Muhammad took charge after Fard Muhammad disappeared in 1934. He then officially named the group the "Nation of Islam."
Under Muhammad's leadership, the Nation of Islam grew a lot. It went from a small local group to a big movement across the country. He believed in black self-sufficiency and helping African Americans rely on themselves. He encouraged them to build their own communities and businesses, rather than focusing on joining existing ones.
Elijah Muhammad passed away on February 25, 1975. His son, Wallace Muhammad, took over as the leader of the NOI. The organization later changed its name and direction.
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Early Life of Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad was born Elijah Robert Poole in Sandersville, Georgia. He was one of thirteen children. His father was a Baptist preacher and a sharecropper, and his mother was a homemaker and sharecropper.
Elijah only went to school until the fourth grade. After that, he started working in sawmills and brickyards. He also worked with his parents as a sharecropper to help his family. When he was sixteen, he left home to find work in factories and other businesses.
Elijah married Clara Evans on March 7, 1917. In 1923, Elijah and his family moved north to Hamtramck, Michigan. They were part of the Great Migration. Many black families moved from the southern U.S. to the North to find safety and jobs.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Elijah struggled to find steady work. This was a tough time because of the economy after World War I and during the Great Depression. While living in Detroit, Elijah and Clara had eight children together.
Joining the Nation of Islam
While in Detroit, Elijah Poole became interested in black nationalist groups. In August 1931, his wife encouraged him to attend a speech. The speech was about Islam and black empowerment, given by Wallace Fard Muhammad. Poole felt a strong connection to Fard's ideas. Fard taught that black people had a rich history that was taken from them during slavery. He believed African Americans could become free by being independent and building their own culture.
Poole quickly became a strong follower of Fard's teachings. His wife and several brothers also joined the movement. Soon after, Poole was given a Muslim name, "Muhammad." He became a leader of the Nation's Temple No. 2 in Chicago. His younger brother, Kalot Muhammad, led the group's self-defense arm, the Fruit of Islam.
Fard Muhammad eventually gave leadership of the Detroit group to Elijah Muhammad. The group then changed its name to the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad and Wallace Fard stayed in touch until 1934, when Wallace Fard disappeared. Elijah Muhammad then became the main leader in Detroit.
In 1934, the Nation of Islam started its first newspaper, Final Call to Islam. This newspaper helped teach people and gain new members. Children of members went to classes at the new Muhammad University of Islam. However, school boards in Detroit and Chicago saw these children as truants from public schools. This led to some problems, including Elijah Muhammad being jailed in 1934.
Leading the Nation of Islam
Elijah Muhammad took full control of the Nation of Islam. In 1935, he moved his family to Chicago. He also traveled to other cities like Milwaukee and Washington, D.C., starting new temples there. He spent a lot of time reading books suggested by Wallace Fard.
On May 8, 1942, Elijah Muhammad was arrested. He was charged with telling his followers not to join the military during World War II. He was found guilty and spent four years in prison, from 1942 to 1946. While he was in prison, his wife, Clara, and other trusted helpers ran the organization. Muhammad sent messages and instructions to his followers through letters.
After he was released in 1946, Elijah Muhammad was firmly in charge of the Nation of Islam. While he was in prison, the group's growth had slowed down. But Muhammad worked hard to grow the Nation again. He even converted some of his fellow inmates.
Muhammad taught his own version of Islam to his followers. He believed that black people were the "original" human beings. He taught that the Nation of Islam's goal was to help black people regain their power and place in America. Many of Elijah Muhammad's teachings appealed to young African-American men. These men often came from Christian backgrounds and faced economic challenges.
Elijah Muhammad's plan for economic development was a big reason the Nation of Islam grew. He bought land and businesses to provide homes and jobs for young black men. By the 1970s, the Nation of Islam owned many businesses. These included bakeries, grocery stores, laundromats, and a printing plant. They also owned farmland and a fleet of trucks. In 1972, they even took control of a bank. By 1974, the group had schools in 47 cities across the United States. In 1972, Muhammad told his followers that the Nation of Islam was worth $75 million.
Written Works
Elijah Muhammad wrote several books and publications:
- Muslim Daily Prayers (1957)
- The Supreme Wisdom, Vol. I & II (1957)
- Message to the Blackman in America (1965)
- How to Eat to Live, Vol. I (1967)
- How to Eat to Live, Vol. II (1972)
- The Fall of America (1973)
- Our Saviour Has Arrived (1974)
- The Flag of Islam (1974)
Death and Legacy
On January 30, 1975, Muhammad went to Mercy Hospital in Chicago. He was suffering from several health issues. He passed away nearly a month later, on February 25, 1975, at age 77. He was survived by many children, including his son Warith Deen Muhammad.
During his time as leader, Elijah Muhammad built the Nation of Islam into a large organization. It had banks, schools, restaurants, and stores in many cities. The Nation also owned farmland and its own transportation systems. It even had a publishing company that printed a large black newspaper.
As a leader, Muhammad guided many important members. These included Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Louis Farrakhan, and his son Warith Deen Mohammed. Today, the Nation of Islam is estimated to have many members and mosques. These mosques offer various social programs.
After Elijah Muhammad's death, his son Warith Deen Mohammed became the leader. Warith changed the Nation of Islam in 1976. He created a new Islamic organization that was more in line with traditional Islam.
In 1977, Louis Farrakhan started the original Nation of Islam again. He used the ideas established by Wallace Fard Muhammad and Elijah Muhammad. Farrakhan was able to get back many of the Nation of Islam's original properties. These included the National Headquarters Mosque #2 (Mosque Maryam) and Muhammad University of Islam in Chicago.
Personal Life
Elijah married Clara Muhammad in Georgia in 1917. They had eight children together. Elijah also had other children from relationships outside of his marriage. It is believed he had at least 23 children in total.
After Elijah's death, some of his children filed lawsuits. They wanted to be recognized as heirs to the Nation of Islam's assets. However, the court ruled against them.
Honors
In 2002, a scholar named Molefi Kete Asante included Elijah Muhammad on his list of the 100 Greatest African Americans.
Portrayals in Film
Elijah Muhammad has been shown in several movies and TV shows:
- He was played by Al Freeman Jr. in Spike Lee's 1992 film Malcolm X.
- Albert Hall played him in Michael Mann's 2001 film, Ali.
- He was also played by Clifton Davis in the series Godfather of Harlem.
See also
In Spanish: Elijah Muhammad para niños
- Afrocentrism
