Muhammad, Elijah << moo HAHM uhd, ih LY juh >> (1897-1975), was the major leader of the original Nation of Islam, whose members called themselves Black Muslims. This organization combined religious beliefs with black nationalism. Muhammad favored racial separation and wanted to establish a black nation within the United States.
Muhammad was born on Oct. 10, 1897, in Sandersville, Georgia. His given and family name was Elijah Poole. In 1923, he moved to Detroit, where he worked on an automobile assembly line. In 1930, he met the founder of the Black Muslims, Wallace D. Fard (or Wali Farad). Fard eventually chose this devoted disciple as his chief aide and gave him the Muslim name Muhammad.
After Fard disappeared in 1934, Muhammad led a number of Black Muslims to Chicago, where he established the organization’s main headquarters. He also set up the worship of Fard as Allah and himself as the Messenger of Allah and head of the Black Muslims. Muhammad built on the teaching of Fard and combined aspects of Islam with the black nationalism of leader Marcus Garvey . Aided by his chief disciple, Malcolm X , Muhammad built the movement and encouraged its rapid spread in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He died on Feb. 25, 1975.
