Elijah Muhammad

Graves of Clara Muhammad (1899–1972) and Elijah Muhammad (1897–1975) at Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens South

American religious leader (1897–1975)

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Title
Official name
Born	Elijah Robert Poole (1897-10-07)October 7, 1897 Sandersville, Georgia, U.S.
Died	February 25, 1975(1975-02-25) (aged 77) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Cause of death
Resting place	Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens, Glenwood, Illinois, U.S.

Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, 1897 – February 25, 1975) was an American religious leader who led the Nation of Islam (NOI) from 1934 until his death in 1975. He was a mentor to Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan, and Muhammad Ali.

Early Life

Elijah Muhammad was born in Sandersville, Georgia, to sharecropper parents. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1923, where he worked in various jobs to support his family.

Nation of Islam

In 1931, Elijah Muhammad met Wallace Fard Muhammad, the founder of the Nation of Islam. After Fard's disappearance in 1934, Elijah Muhammad took over the leadership of the NOI. Under his leadership, the NOI grew significantly, establishing mosques, schools, and businesses.

Teachings and Beliefs

Elijah Muhammad's teachings emphasized black self-reliance, economic independence, and the rejection of integration with white society. He taught that black people were the original people of the world and that white people were a race of "devils" created by a scientist named Yakub.

Controversies

Elijah Muhammad's leadership was not without controversy. His teachings on race and his authoritarian leadership style were criticized both within and outside the NOI. The assassination of Malcolm X in 1965, after he had left the NOI and criticized Muhammad, further fueled controversy.

Death and Legacy

Elijah Muhammad died on February 25, 1975, in Chicago, Illinois. He was succeeded by his son, Warith Deen Mohammed, who led the NOI towards more orthodox Sunni Islam practices. Elijah Muhammad's legacy continues to influence the NOI and other black nationalist movements.

Related Pages

• Nation of Islam
• Malcolm X
• Louis Farrakhan
• Muhammad Ali
• Wallace Fard Muhammad
• Warith Deen Mohammed
• Yakub