Having its roots in nineteenth-century and early-twentieth-century Black Nationalism, the Nation of Islam presents a theology/philosophy of its time. Its unique view of the origin of the Black and White races, Allah in the person of Master Fard Muhammad, and the destruction of the White race, apostates, and all those who do not embrace its savior gives each member of the Nation of Islam a sense of identity and purpose. Understanding the cultural context in which the anthropology and theology of the Nation of Islam arose can aid Christians in evangelism of its adherents.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CleggClaude AndrewIII1997An Original Man: The Life and Times of Elijah Muhammad. New York: St. Martin's Press.
2.
DeCaroLouis A.1998On the Side of My People: A Religious Life of Malcolm X. New York: New York University Press.
3.
GardellMattias1996In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
4.
LeeMartha F.1988The Nation of Islam, an American Millenarian Movement. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen.
5.
LefkowitzMary1997Not out of Africa: How Afrocentrism Became an Excuse to Teach Myth as History. New York: Basic Books.
6.
LincolnC. Eric1994The Black Muslims in America. 3d ed.Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
7.
MagidaArthur J.1996Prophet of Rage: A Life of Louis Farrakhan and His Nation. New York: HarperCollins.
8.
MarshClifton E.1996From Black Muslims to Muslims: The Resurrection, Transformation, and Change of the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in America. 2d ed.Lanham, MD: Scarecrow.
9.
MosesWilson Jeremiah1993Black Messiahs and Uncle Toms: Social and Literary Manipulations of a Religious Myth. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.
10.
MuhammadElijah1996“Days of Allah.”The Final Call15(7): 18. Reprinted from Muhammad, Message to the Blackman in America.
11.
MuhammadElijah1965Message to the Blackman in America. Chicago: Muhammad's Temple No. 2.
12.
MuhammadElijah1974Our Saviour Has Arrived. Chicago: Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 2.
13.
MuhammadElijah1957The Supreme Wisdom: Solution to the So-Called Negroes' Problem. Chicago: University of Islam.
14.
RassoullAbass, compiler and transcriber 1992The Theology of Time: By the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. Hampton, VA: UBUS Communications Systems.
15.
TsoukalasSteven2001The Nation of Islam: Understanding the “Black Muslims.”Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2001.
16.
WhitemanDarrell2003 Notes from Whiteman's lectures on Anthropology for Christian Mission, fall semester, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmorc, KY, recorded by Steven Tsoukalas.
