Elijah Muhammad and Islam / Herbert Berg

Bibliogr. p. 177-186

American Islam before Elijah Muhammad. - The life of Elijah Muhammad. - Elijah Muhammad and the Qur'an. - The major "Islamic" themes in Elijah Muhammad's Quranic commentary. - Elijah Muhammad, other Muslims, and Islam. - The legacy of Elijah Muhammad.

Elijah Muhammad is arguably the most significant figure in the history of Islam in the United States. Successor to W. D. Fard, the founder of the Nation of Islam, and a mentor to Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad led the NOI for over forty years. In "Elijah Muhammad and Islam", Herbert Berg focuses on Elijah Muhammad's religiosity, which is frequently brought into question as the authenticity of the Nation of Islam as 'truly Islamic' remains hotly debated. To better comprehend this powerful and controversial figure, Berg contextualizes Elijah Muhammad and his religious approach within the larger Islamic tradition, exploring his use of the Qur'an, his interpretation of Islam, and his relationships with other Muslims. Above all, Berg seeks to understand - not define or label - Muhammad as a Muslim. To do otherwise, he argues, is to misunderstand and distort the man, his teachings, his movement, and his legacy.