The Un-Islamic Nation of Islam

Madina Archives


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

The Un-Islamic Nation of Islam
Moe
02/04/02 at 18:16:35
[slm]

Hey guys,I wrote the essay below for my politics class.
Tell me what guys think about it any comments or what ever.
I read up on the Nation of Islam and woah its intresting.
Its more of a political/ social movement then a religion.

alright guys tell me what u think.

wasalaam,
Mohmmad

[hr]

[center]THE UN-ISLAMIC NATION OF ISLAM[/center]

     "No prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born" was articulated in Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon. (Ahmed) The mention of the name Nation of Islam, will cause a variety of responses in any given situation. To some, this organization symbolizes racism. To others it is seen as a source of discipline and self-improvement for the black community. Regardless of one’s opinion of the Nation it cannot be denied that the Nation and orthodox Islam differ in their beliefs. The Nation of Islam is a social movement group with roots based in Orthodox Islam but their beliefs have been altered and are not considered Islamic by the majority of orthodox Muslims and their scholars.

     In 1930, door-to-door silk salesperson Wali Farad Muhammad who was born Wallace Fard, founded the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in Detroit, Michigan. Farad did not stress fulfillment of any of the traditional five pillars of Islam which are (a) declaration of unity of Allah and that Muhammad was his messenger, (b) establish the five daily prayers, (c) contributing to charity (d) fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, (e) pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. (Campbell) He instead focuses upon the historical oppression of the black people. Farad taught Elijah Muhammad who was born Elijah Poole in Sandersville GA, his version of Islam which is known as Nation of Islam. Farad then sent Elijah Muhammad to establish a second temple in Chicago and Farad later disappeared in 1934 leaving Elijah Muhammad as the leader of the Nation.

       To be considered a Muslim, one must believe and follow the five pillars of Islam. The first pillar of Islam is the declaration of unity of Allah and that Muhammad was his messenger also known as the shadah. The shadah means that “Allah is unseen, he is the creator, the sustainer. Mankind is accountable to him alone, and Prophet Muhammad (S) of Arabia is the final and role model; no one can substitute for him” (Samad) The Nation of Islam believes that Wali Farad Muhammad was Allah in person and that Elijah Muhammad is the real role model of our time. (Muhammad) The second pillar of Islam is to establish the five daily prayers. The Nation of Islam does not require their followers to perform the five daily prayers only a major congregational prayer on Friday which is only a talk by the Minister and not a prayer like that performed by the orthodox Muslims. The third pillar of Islam is to contribute to charity. Islam requires a certain percentage of accumulated wealth that has been in possession for one year above the limits, as defined in Islamic law to be donated to charity. Nation of Islam’s views on charitable donations is a tax due on your income, something similar to income tax. The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting required during the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Nation of Islam only requires its followers to fast in the month of December and in the month of Ramadan it is optional. The last pillar of Islam is making a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina “once in your lifetime if conditions of finances, health and safety are met.” (Samad) The Nation of Islam does not require its followers to make a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. The Nation of Islam rejects the five pillars of Islam. Since the Nation of Islam does not follow these pillars they may not be accepted just as another sect of Islam but must be considered as a different religion as they have bastardized Islam.
     
       One of the many other differences between the Nation of Islam and orthodox Islam is the role of the race. The Nation of Islam clearly believes that Farard was sent to wake "the black nation to the full range of the black man's possibilities in a world temporarily dominated by the blue-eyed devils." (Rogers) They also refer to the white man as the  "the Caucasian devils." (Rogers) The Nation of Islam also forbids interracial marriages. “We believe that intermarriage and race mixing should be prohibited.” (Muhammad) The Koran however states “And His signs are the creation of heavens and earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors.” (Koran 30.22) The Nation of Islam only gives out its membership to the black race with a few exceptions to other races such as Asian and Hispanic but this does not include the white race. Orthodox Islam is open to all races, as they are creations of Allah and Islam states that all persons are born Muslim.

     One of the other major differences between Nation of Islam and orthodox Islam is the way they look at other religions and their followers. Islam accepts the existence of all prophets from Moses to Jesus to Muhammad. The Nation of Islam believes that Elijah Muhammad is the messenger of God. Orthodox Islam regards members of all religions as holy. The Koran states “those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans-whoever believeth in Allah, and the Last Day doeth right- surely their reward is with their Lord, and their shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve” (Koran 2:62) Farrakhan preaches hate of those of other religions and races. In a 1995-press interview, Minister Lewis Farrakhan said,

"They [the Jews] are the greatest controllers of Black minds, Black intelligence. They write the scripts -- the foolish scripts on television that our people portray. They are the movie moguls that feature us in these silly, degrading, degenerate roles. The great recording companies that portray our people in such a filthy and low-rating way, yet they would not allow such a man as Michael Jackson to say one word that they thought would besmirch their reputation, but they put us before the world as clowns and as purveyors of filth. No, I will fight that."

Also in the March 3rd, 2000’s edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer Farrakhan was quoted saying "White people are potential humans…they haven’t evolved yet." It is beliefs such as these that create the image of the Nation of Islam as a Racist organization that preaches Black supremacy.

     The Nation of Islam has helped those who enter the Nation from refraining from the use of drugs and alcohol. Helping their members clean up and be less likely to join gangs and becoming victims of violence. It has been a source of discipline and self-improvement for the Black community.

       Some may argue that the Nation of Islam is improving the Black community in general. The Nation of Islam should be known as Farrkhanism after its leader Louis Farrakhan. The Nation needs to stop associating with Islam, as they are two very different religions, because followers the Nation of Islam do not follow the pillars of Islam. Many Islamic scholars around the world have condemned Louis Farrakhan and his Nation of Islam and have called them and referred to them as non-Muslims. Calling themselves Muslims is creating a harmful image for the true followers of Islam. The hate that Farrakhan preaches outweighs any of the benefits of the Nation of Islam.
Re: The Un-Islamic Nation of Islam
Anonymous
02/07/02 at 15:20:15
Dear Brother Moe!

Aslamoalikum!

   Uptil the Last Day of this Universe, evil people will continue to
exist, because in all way, Almighty God's 'word' that I will fill the
hell with Jinns and Mankind will be fulfilled. I think better course is
to stick the Quranic commandament contained in the following verse:
Sura 5 Ayat 105.

[url]http://www.quraneasyurdu.com/ps07/ch07d.html[/url]

Please note down the conditional words "if you are rightly guided", so
if a person sticks to God's guidance that is "Quran", then no one can
harm such a person with ulterior motives.
Salaam.

Re: The Un-Islamic Nation of Islam
Anonymous
02/07/02 at 15:20:55

moe, JAK, real interesting.  i hear they believe that there's an alien mothership or something?


Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.
The rest © Jannah.Org