Islam In The United States

[Rehmat]

Islamic connection with the Native Americans goes beyond the ‘Accident discovery’ of Americana by Christopher Columbus in early sixteenth century.


In order to understand the present-day ‘Crucification’ of Islam here in America, you have to look at the history of slavery. Islam came here on the slave ships. Even though the practice of Islam was banned amongst the slaves of the antebellum south, elements of it remained as a part of our oral tradition.


Out of these roots, early movements developed such as the Moorish Science Temple in the 1920s, founded by Drew Ali. His message of dignity and economic independence had strong appeal to depression-era Afro-Americans. These teachings, along with those of Black-nationalist Marcus Garvey, were strong influences on the next generation of Afro-American Muslims.


Imam Al-Amin’s involvement with Islam, like many African American Muslims of his generation, started in the Nation of Islam under its charismatic founder, Elijah Muhammad. The doctrine of the Nation was well known for its racial component. Whites were regarded as genetic mutants not only devoid of color, but also of morals.


It was this "White Devil" doctrine that shocked and terrified America, despite the fact that there were many other positive elements to their movement. This reverse psychology was a means to shake Afro-Americans out of their own internalized oppression. Imam Al-Amin explains, "Whites had put themselves up on a pedestal, practically attributing themselves a divine status and a lot of us had bought into that, consciously and subconsciously. We had to hear a wake up call out of that nightmare."


By the time of Elijah Muhammad’s death in 1975, the Nation of Islam had established over 76 temples nationwide with an estimated 100,000 members. Leadership of the Nation was ceremoniously passed on to Elijah’s son, Warith Deen Mohammed, by election. Almost immediately W.D. Mohammed began to dismantle the Nation as he started to lead the members into the practice of Sunni Islam paving the way for other top followers like Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali.


Today, Afro-Americans comprise over 40 percent of the estimated 8-10 million Muslims in America today (the largest minority). This move towards true Islamic teachings, however, was not entirely accepted by all members. By the early 1980’s, the then disgruntled and now controversial Louis Farrakhan reorganized the Nation of Islam and brought this contingent back to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. The two camps held a long-standing animosity for each other, but, as leaders of both factions will point out, not a drop of blood was spilled between them in the years of this separation. Disagreement was kept on the rhetorical and theological level and both were still focused on the common goal of strengthening the Afro-American community.

[Shereen]

Who don't accpet every race as the creation of Allah, is NOT a Muslim in anyway. If Elijah believed it, he was not a Muslim.

[Anyabwile]

Who don't accpet every race as the creation of Allah, is NOT a Muslim in anyway. If Elijah believed it, he was not a Muslim.

Man i always feel embaressed when i think back on the Nation Of Islam i used to think they were cool being a young African-British kid. Although a little cooky with their ideas...the white people being made by an evil scientist being one of them. It was the fact they stood up to the extreme racism from whites at the time that appealed to many.


However...


The more i looked into them, the more i see why Malcolm X left them and embraced True Islam. Elijah had many many many Insane beleifs, including...


<i>. The Qur'an was only a guidance for the messangers and not for the people to follow. </i>


. Allah created himself first out of triple darkness and then the created the universe.


. Allah came to him in the form of a man.


. Allah later got thrown in Jail for a bit and couldnt get out.


. The Prophet (peace be upon him) couldn't understand the Message of the Qur'an so it was given to Elijah.


Subhan Allah. These guys really make me feel ashamed now. Although they had the right idea, the blatant racism and comic book ideas on Islam were a real shame. If Malcolm hadn't been killed he would have been a gem for true Islam. But it was as The Most High willed. Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin

[Anyabwile]

Oh yeah i just remembered a few more Gems from them...


<i>. There is no heaven or hell at all, once you die, you don't go no where.</i>


. And there are no such things as Jinn


Why am i doing this to myself, this is painful i used to love these guys.

[fearAllah247]

i never thought they were cool, but as a kid i remember thinking islam was a blacks only religion, and all i knew about it was that it taught white men were devils. which to a certain extent, i understood (because of slavery) i had no clue there was even a "true" islam out there.

[NewBeginning]

Salaam


I know exactly what you mean fear 24/7,


When I was growing up, my family was the only white family in a 2 mile radius. My brother got MANY beatings just for being white. Not many people know the "other" side of the coin.


The Nation of Islam(spit) took a pure religion and turned it into something vile and disgusting:


Just another form of racism


I've been called a devil tooooo many times in my life. Never again!!!! I also really admire Malcolm X for standing up to them. Even though his life was shortened, he did live long enough to get just the right words out there. [img]style_emoticons/default/wub.gif[/img]


wasalaam

[NaSra]

Some of my favorite quotes by EL Malik Haj al shabaas

"There is nothing in our book, the Koran, that teaches us to suffer peacefully. Our religion teaches us to be intelligent. Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery. That’s a good religion."

"Message to the Grass Roots," speech, Nov. 1963, Detroit (published in Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 1, 1965).

"We're not Americans, we're Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn't land on Plymouth Rock - that rock landed on us."

"I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion."

"For the freedom of my 22 million black brothers and sisters here in America, I do believe that I have fought the best that I know how, and the best that I could, with the shortcomings that I have had...I know that societies often have killed people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine."

Masha'Allah I pray that his soul is at peace and that Allah has accepted him as a Martyr. Surely I have never seen or heard of any leader who was at so much risk for his own life but spoke the truth so perfectly, till the end. Truly one of a kind [img]style_emoticons/default/wub.gif[/img]


Nowadays Our muslim leaders are allies with our enemies let alone speak for their people.

[Kareem_Rasheed]

As salamu aleiykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!


As a caucasian American I agree Malcolm X was a good man at the end when He finally Imbraced True Islam and atleast Allah(swt) allowed him to die a true Muslim.


My daughter had to do a report on a great African American hero this week and she did it on Malcolm X....and she got a 100.


It amaze's me how many Black Muslim seem to be taught that Isu(Jesus)(pbuh) was black when some Hadiths say he was white.....

Narrated Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "I saw myself (in a dream) near the Ka'ba last night, and I saw a man with whitish red complexion, the best you may see amongst men of that complexion having long hair reaching his earlobes which was the best hair of its sort, and he had combed his hair and water was dropping from it, and he was performing the Tawaf around the Ka'ba while he was leaning on two men or on the shoulders of two men. I asked, 'Who is this man?' Somebody replied, '(He is) Messiah, son of Mary.'.............'"

And Muhammed was said to be of light complexion also:

Muhammad (pbuh) was of a height a little above the average. He was of sturdy build with long muscular limbs and tapering fingers. The hair of his head was long and thick with some waves in them. His forehead was large and prominent, his eyelashes were long and thick, his nose was sloping, his mouth was somewhat large and his teeth were well set. His cheeks were spare and he had a pleasant smile. His eyes were large and black with a touch of brown. His beard was thick and at the time of his death, he had seventeen gray hairs in it. He had a thin line of fine hair over his neck and chest. He was fair of complexion and altogether was so handsome that Abu Bakr composed this couplet on him:
"as there is no darkness in the moonlit night so is Mustafa, the well-wisher, bright." ........................ (Shamail Tirmizi).

Insh a Allah more people will come to this knowledge!And stop using Islam as a racist religion.


As-salamu!