Truth about the Nation of Islam

The Nation of Islam has recently received renewed public attention due to perceived connections with elements of the Black Lives Matter movement. Although media coverage has often portrayed the organization in a favorable light, the Nation of Islam represents a highly unorthodox religious movement whose doctrines differ substantially from both historic Christianity and orthodox Islam. As Ron Rhodes observes:

“In this group we find extravagant claims regarding spaceships, the sudden disappearance of top leader, murder, racial conflict, a bizarre explanation regarding where white people came from, a continual emphasis on black empowerment, and much more.”¹⁾Ron Rhodes, Find It Quick Handbook on Cults & New Religions, Harvest House Publishers (Eugene, OR:2005), p. 119

An exhaustive examination of the movement is beyond the scope of this article. Nevertheless, even a brief investigation reveals that the Nation of Islam is characterized by teachings that are both historically and theologically problematic.

Walter Martin traces the origins of the movement to an earlier religious organization:

“The Nation [of Islam] derives from a group called the Moorish-American Science Temple in Newark, New Jersey, established in 1913 by B. Timothy Drew (1866-1929)…. After Drew died, he was succeeded by John Givens El in Chicago and Wallace D. Fard (or Farad) in Detroit, each claiming to be the reincarnation of Drew. El’s followers are known as Moorish Americans and Fard’s as Black Muslims of the Nation.”²⁾Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 450

The Nation of Islam emerged as a distinct movement through the teachings of Wallace D. Fard. David Barrett notes:

“Outsiders sometimes see the Nation of Islam as primarily a Black Power political movement with some religious trimmings. In religious terms it certainly has little, if anything, in common with Islam itself, but it does have a very distinct, and extremely detailed, theology.”³⁾ David V. Barrett, The New Believers: Sects, ‘Cults’ and Alternative Religions, Cassell & Co (United Kingdoms: 2001), p. 252

Indeed, apart from employing Islamic terminology, the Nation of Islam shares very little theological common ground with traditional Islam.

Wallace D. Fard and the Rise of the Nation of Islam

Barrett summarizes the emergence of Wallace D. Fard Muhammad:

“In 1930 W.D. Fard, or Master Fard Muhammad, appeared on the scene in Detroit, claiming to have come from Mecca, and to be the reincarnation of Drew. His actual origins are unknown, and the one known photograph of him suggest that he was white in colour.”⁴⁾David V. Barrett, The New Believers: Sects, ‘Cults’ and Alternative Religions, Cassell & Co (United Kingdoms: 2001), p. 251

Fard capitalized on racial tensions prevalent during the early twentieth century. Henry Young writes:

“He instructed blacks to prepare for the battle of Armageddon, which he interpreted to mean the final confrontation between blacks and whites.”⁵⁾Henry Young, Major Black Religious Leaders Since 1940, Abington (Nashville, TN: 1979), pp. 66-67

One of Fard’s earliest converts was Elijah Muhammad, who later became the movement’s most influential leader. Elijah declared:

“We believe that Allah (God) appeared in the Person of Master W. Fard Muhammad, July, 1930—the long awaited ‘Messiah’ of the Christians and the ‘Mahdi’ of the Muslims.”⁶⁾Elijah Muhammad, Message to the Blackman in America, Final Call (Chicago, IL: 1965), p. 164

Such a claim effectively elevates Fard Muhammad to divine status and places ultimate authority behind his teachings.

Leadership After Elijah Muhammad

Elijah Muhammad led the organization for forty-one years and oversaw substantial growth. Following his death in 1975, leadership passed to his son, Warith (Wallace) Muhammad.

Rhodes notes:

“Upon the death of Elijah Muhammad in 1975, his son [Warith] Wallace Dean Muhammad became his successor. Wallace moved the Nation of Islam back into the fold of traditional Islam in the late 1970s. Wallace also led the group away from its radical racism and began teaching racial harmony, no longer viewing whites as a race of devils. He also repudiated Fard’s deification. The organization was renamed the American Muslim Mission.”⁷⁾ Ron Rhodes, Find It Quick Handbook on Cults & New Religions, Harvest House Publishers (Eugene, OR:2005), p. 122

Walter Martin further explains:

“To account for his father’s teachings, Warith Muhammad says they need to be understood metaphorically.”⁸⁾ Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 451

However, many members rejected this reinterpretation. Rhodes records:

“Louis Farrakkan, among others, was not happy about Wallace’s changes. He and other Nation of Islam members split off from Wallace’s group and re-founded the Nation of Islam, maintaining allegiance to the teaching of Elijah Muhammad.”⁹⁾ Ron Rhodes, Find It Quick Handbook on Cults & New Religions, Harvest House Publishers (Eugene, OR:2005), p. 122

Among Farrakhan’s chief objections was Wallace Muhammad’s rejection of racial exclusivism. Martin notes that Farrakhan:

“is also well known for his hatred of whites and Jews, and was accused by Malcom X’s widow of involvement in the assassination of her late husband.”¹⁰⁾ Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 451

Farrakhan’s controversial statements include referring to Adolf Hitler as a:

“wickedly great man.”¹¹⁾Times (February 28, 1994, pp. 25-26; as cited by Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 452

Such comments become more understandable when viewed within the broader framework of Nation of Islam eschatology.

The Theology of the Nation of Islam

The theology of the Nation of Islam is highly eclectic and incorporates elements from a variety of sources. Barrett observes:

“The teachings included elements of Freemasonry, with an emphasis on astronomy and mathematics which would become significant later. The militaristic nature of the Nation of Islam was established early on by Fard; those who guarded the members were called the Fruit of Islam.”¹²⁾ David V. Barrett, The New Believers: Sects, ‘Cults’ and Alternative Religions, Cassell & Co (United Kingdoms: 2001), p. 251

One of the movement’s most unusual doctrines concerns the origin of humanity and race. Martin summarizes:

“Nation members believe that God was at one time a scientist who wanted to create a single language on the earth, but was unable to do so. After failing to do this, he decided to destroy the earth, only succeeding in causing the moon to separate from the earth sixty-six trillion years ago.”¹³⁾ Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 452

In this account, God is not the Creator of the universe but merely a scientist among other gods.

Rhodes further explains the movement’s racial mythology:

“One of these 24 gods, named Yakub, rebelled against Allah and the council, and committed the horrible crime of creating the white race—a race of devils—through a perverse breeding experiment that removed not only their color but also their moral virtues. At some point the whites tried to reverse-breed themselves back into the black race, but this effort only succeeded in producing gorillas.”¹⁴⁾ Ron Rhodes, Find It Quick Handbook on Cults & New Religions, Harvest House Publishers (Eugene, OR:2005), p. 123

This doctrine stands in direct contradiction to orthodox Islamic teaching. The Quran itself attributes all human diversity to Allah:

“And of his signs, the creation of the heavens and the earth, and your variety of tongues and colors” (Surah 30:22).¹⁵⁾The Generous Quran: An Accurate Modern English Translation of the Qur’an, Islam’s Holiest Book (Translated by Usama Dakdok), Usama Dakdok Publishing (Venice, FL: 2009), p. 235

According to Nation of Islam theology, white people are descendants of Yakub and are therefore inherently evil. Michael Lieb writes that Yakub:

“who allowed his white offspring to rule the black man by means of lies and treachery.”¹⁶⁾Michael Lieb, Children of Ezekiel: Aliens, UFOs, The Crisis of Race, and the Advent of the End Time, Duke University Press (Durham & London: 1998), p. 143

Conversely, black people are taught that they are divine beings. Elijah Muhammad declared:

“You are walking around looking for a God to bow to and worship. You are the God!”¹⁷⁾Elijah Muhammad, Our Savior Has Arrived, Secretarius MEMPS Ministry (Phoenix, AZ: 1974), p. 35

Yet Elijah simultaneously taught:

“There are no gods who live forever.”¹⁸⁾ Elijah Muhammad, Our Savior Has Arrived, United Brothers (Newport News, VA: 1992), p . 96

The resulting theology presents “gods” who are finite, mortal, and ultimately perish.

Racial Conflict and Eschatology

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the Nation of Islam is its emphasis upon racial conflict and divine vengeance.

Martin notes:

“Before and during World War II, he [Elijah Muhammad] fostered political friendship with the Japanese as a means to destroy white America before and during World War II.”¹⁹⁾ Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 451

Ironically, such activism appears unnecessary according to Nation of Islam theology, which teaches:

“White people will eventually be destroyed by a great spaceship that carries out Allah’s judgement.”²⁰⁾ Ron Rhodes, Find It Quick Handbook on Cults & New Religions, Harvest House Publishers (Eugene, OR:2005), p. 124

Drawing heavily from Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1:4–28), the movement teaches the existence of a gigantic UFO known as the Mother Plane. Lieb explains:

“face ultimate obliteration through the working of the Mother Plane as a vehicle both of destruction and salvation. In its annihilation of the enemy and its resuscitation of the faithful at the time of Armageddon, the Mother Plane will have fulfilled its true calling.”²¹⁾ Michael Lieb, Children of Ezekiel: Aliens, UFOs, The Crisis of Race, and the Advent of the End Time, Duke University Press (Durham & London: 1998), p. 7

This eschatological framework has repeatedly failed to correspond with reality. Martin summarizes one such prediction:

“The white man is the devil and was given 6,000 years to rule the earth, a period that ended in 1914.”²²⁾ Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults (Revised, Updated and Expanded Edition), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN: 2003), p. 453

Like many apocalyptic movements, the Nation of Islam has struggled to reconcile its prophetic expectations with the passage of time.

The Biblical Alternative

In contrast to the teachings of the Nation of Islam, Scripture presents a God who is eternal, sovereign, and impartial. The Lord declares:

“there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me” (Isaiah 45:21).

Unlike the finite deities of Nation of Islam theology, the God of Scripture is:

“the eternal God” (Deuteronomy 33:27),

and He declares:

“I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).

Furthermore, God’s love extends to all humanity, irrespective of race or ethnicity:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

The Bible condemns hatred and bitterness, instructing believers:

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31),

and:

“be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” (Ephesians 4:32).

Likewise, God’s people are commanded:

“thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39).

The ultimate expression of divine love is found in Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches:

“God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God manifested Himself in human flesh (1 Timothy 3:16), not in Wallace D. Fard Muhammad, but in Jesus Christ, who:

“became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Christ died for the sins of all mankind (Romans 6:23) and offers eternal life to all who believe. Unlike the temporary and racially focused salvation proposed by the Nation of Islam, the gospel proclaims a universal invitation grounded in God’s grace. Eternal life is found not through racial identity, secret knowledge, or political revolution, but through repentance and faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.