Nation of Islam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nation of Islam

Abbreviation	NOI
Formation	July 4, 1930; 95 years ago (1930-07-04)
Founder	Wallace Fard Muhammad
Founded at	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Type	New religious movement
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Mosque Maryam, Chicago, Illinois
Location	United States
Membership (2007 estimate)	c. 50,000
Official language	English
Leader	Louis Farrakhan
Key people	Elijah Muhammad Wallace Muhammad Malcolm X
Subsidiaries	Fruit of Islam Muhammad University of Islam Muslim Girls Training Star Chamber Academy

Nation of Islam flag

The Nation of Islam is a group that follows a special kind of Islam. It was started in Detroit, Michigan in 1930 by a man named Wallace Fard Muhammad. The main goal of the Nation of Islam is to help Black Americans improve their spiritual, mental, social, and economic lives. Since 1978, the group has been led by Louis Farrakhan. Famous civil rights leader Malcolm X was also a member of this group.

Today, the main office for the Nation of Islam is in Chicago, Illinois.

What the Nation of Islam Believes

The Nation of Islam believes there is only one God, and His name is Allah. They teach that Allah "came in the person of W. D. Fard", who founded their group. Their way of practicing Islam is different from Sunni and Shia Muslims. Their teachings do not allow anyone to treat a person as if they are God, or to think of God as a human.

• They believe in the One God, named Allah.
• They believe in the Holy Qur'an and the writings of all God's prophets.
• They believe the Bible holds truth, but they think it needs to be understood in a new way.
• They believe it is time for Black Americans and white Americans to live separately.
• They believe Black Americans should choose their own names, not keep names given by former slave masters.
• They believe God (Allah) appeared as Master W. Fard Muhammad in 1930. They see him as the Christian "Messiah" and the Muslim "Mahdi".
• They believe all people are equal.
• They respect the American people as independent and follow the country's laws.

The Nation of Islam Flag

The flag of the Nation of Islam shows the symbols of the sun, moon, and stars. These symbols represent the entire universe. The flag is also a sign of universal peace and harmony.

What the Nation of Islam Wants

The Nation of Islam has several important goals:

• They want freedom.
• They want Justice.
• They want equal chances for jobs.
• They want to create their own separate nation that has good land for farming and is rich in minerals.
• They want education to be equal for everyone.
• They want separate schools for boys (up to age 16) and girls (up to age 18). They also want separate colleges and universities for women.
• They believe all Black children should be taught by Black teachers.
• They want free school supplies.
• They believe marrying or mixing races should not be allowed.

Interesting facts about the Nation of Islam

• Experts who study religions classify the Nation of Islam (NOI) as a new religious movement. They have also called it an African American religion.
• The Nation of Islam is mainly based in the United States. It also has a presence in other countries.
• Only people of color can become members.
• The NOI does not have its own holy book. Instead, it uses the Bible and Quran. However, it interprets these scriptures very differently from how they are usually understood in Christianity and Islam.
• The NOI sees itself as part of the Islamic world. Its practices include using the Arabic language, praying five times a day, and using a flag similar to Turkey's.
• Despite these similarities, the Nation has little in common with mainstream Islam. Its ideas about God and the afterlife are very different from Muslim teachings. It also does not accept the common Islamic belief that Muhammad was God's final messenger. Even though it uses Islamic terms, the NOI gives them completely different meanings.
• Most mainstream Muslims see the NOI as a movement that uses some Islamic ideas but is not truly Islamic.
• In the 1960s and early 1970s, NOI places of worship were called both temples and mosques. The term "mosque" became more common later.
• Besides worship, NOI mosques also serve as community centers, schools, and child-care facilities. The mosque leader is called a captain.
• The supreme captain is responsible for the group's security. This is one of the most powerful roles.
• Security is provided by the Fruit of Islam. These men are trained in military protocol and self-defense. They protect NOI leaders, temples/mosques, and other property.
• The Nation also runs its Muslim Girls Training. Members receive lessons in domestic skills and self-defense.
• The Nation is headquartered at Mosque Maryam in Chicago.
• It is a very structured organization. By the 2020s, an executive council of 13 members governed it. It also has ten ministries for different areas like Education, Health, and Science.
• In the group's senior ranks, family connections are important.

Images for kids

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  Young male members of the Nation of Islam in San Francisco, California in 1994

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  Nation of Islam members at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London, March 1999.

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  Women members of the NOI at a Saviour's Day meeting in 1974. A women's outfit incorporating a headpiece and full-length garment covering the arms and legs was introduced in the 1930s, intended to preserve the wearer's modesty.

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  A Nation of Islam mosque in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, 2005.

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  Bean pies, which are among the food produced by the Nation

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  The interior of a Nation-owned bakery in Oakland, California

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  The Moorish Science Temple of America, whose members are pictured here in 1928, was a key influence on the Nation of Islam

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  Elijah Muhammad, who formulated many of the Nation's key ideas

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  Louis Farrakhan, who re-established the Nation of Islam after leaving Wallace Muhammad's group in 1977

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  Gaddafi was the Nation's most prominent international supporter; Farrakhan stated that "we will always love him, admire and respect him and stand up and speak on his behalf".

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  Members of the Fruit of Islam photographed in 1974

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  A crowd of Muslims applaud during Elijah Muhammad's annual Saviors' Day message in Chicago in 1974

See also

In Spanish: Nación del Islam para niños