The mention of the “Nation of Islam” will undoubtedly cause an immense number of responses in any situation. To some, this organization symbolizes blatant racism. To others, it isseen as a savior of the black community. Regardless of one’s opinion of the Nation, though, thedifferences between Al-Islam(traditional Islam) and the beliefs of the Nation cannot be denied.The Nation of Islam is a social movement. This social movement is undoubtedly rooted inreligion, and its principles are derived from those of traditional Islam, but their basic philosophiesare so strikingly different that the Nation of Islam cannot be considered Islamic.In 1930, the Nation was founded by an African immigrant who called himself WallaceD. Fard Muhammad. He stated that his mission was to take “the black nation to the full range ofthe black man’s possibilities in aworld temporarily dominated by the blue-eyeddevils”(http://www.forerunner.com/foreruner/X0065_Nation_of_Islam.html). This philosphywas carried on to the next leader of the Nation, Elijah Muhammad, and eventually to the currentleader, Louis Farrakhan. The Nation was founded as a black organization, and has remained assuch. Islam, on the other hand, is all encompassing. The first, and most astonishing, difference between the Nation and traditional Islam isthe role of race in the church’s philosophy. the Nation’s philosophy clearly states that, “Webelieve that intermarriage and race mixing should be prohibitted (www.noi.org/ program.html)”.The traditional wording of the Koran, however, states that diversity in race is one of Allah’sgreatest creations(Koran, 30.22). The Nation of Islam restricts its membersip to those who areblack. the beliefs of traditional Islam, however, state that all persons are born Muslim, and that“every person is endowed by Allah with the spiritual potential and intellectual inclination that canmake him a goo...
