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Mr. Elijah Muhammad 
and MOSLEM WORLD & THE U.S.A.

The publication of our articles on the Moslem movement of Mr. Elijah Muhammad in the last three issues of MOSLEM WORLD & THE U.S.A. has created considerable interest in the world of Islam and among Moslems in the U.S.A. Letters containing words of appreciation or criticism continue to pour in from all parts of the world. Many of the readers have requested "more information" and "the truth" about Mr. Muhammad and his teachings; a few have expressed their desire to know the "true relationship" between Mr. Muhammad and his journal.

On these pages we shall attempt to explain our "relationship" with the Moslem leader and also give the requested information.

MOSLEM WORLD & THE U.S.A. is an independent publication. It is not the property of Mr. Elijah Muhammad or, for that matter, of anyone else other than its publisher. However, realizing Islam around the country) [[sic]] and writings lem movement have become an insepar- that both Mr. Muhammad and his Mosable part of the over-all picture of Islamic affairs in America, we consider it our duty to print periodical, detailed reports on their progress.

As we see it, Mr. Muhammand's [sic] teachings (offered through his Temples of (printed regularly in the Weekly "Pittsburgh Courier") have enabled more Americans to form acquaintance with Islam than the efforts of all other individuals seeking converts to Islam here put together.

We are aware of the fact that Mr. Elijah Muhammad, as some Moslems have put it, "operates on racial lines." In other words, he considers and speaks of Islam as a "religion for black mankind." However, it is not difficult for us to comprehend the wisdom in such a practice on his part. Mr. Muhammad believes that to preach Islam among "the whites" is to "waste one's time and effort" because he is convinced that they "just won't accept Islam and give it a place in their hearts." Besides, Mr. Muhammad believes that his convictions in this respect are definitely "divine" in nature and thus infallible. 

In our opinion, it is quite all right if only black Americans ("the so-called Negroes") turn Moslem. Interested in the Mission and propagation of Islam as we are, we would rather see an all-black Moslem community in America than none at all. Let's face it, a lot of people just wouldn't accept some of the basic principles of Islam, especially the Unity of Godhead, daily prayers, and abstention from intoxicants.A few of our New York City friends recently asked us, in telephone conversation, whether or not we could "comment on Mr. Muhammad as an individual." What we told our friends over the telephone, we now record below in writing and in print:

We believe that Mr. Muhammad is a very sincere leader of his people. We believe he is not desirous of riches or

8     MOSLEM WORLD & THE U.S.A.

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fame. he is not worldly-he drinks nor smokes, nor does he eat but one meal a day. Moreover, by preaching what he does, he is constantly courting the wrath of his enemies. If Mr. Muhammad loved life, surely he would shun dangers!

Certain other friends of our allege that Mr. Muhammad's Moslem teachings differ from those of Eastern Moslems. Mr. Muhammad readily concedes this, explaining that "my people must be dealt with on a special basis, because their background and circumstances are different from those prevailing elsewhere in the world. You cannot use the same medicine to treat altogether different diseases," he says.

He we might add that Mr. Muhammad doesn't think too much of some of the Eastern Moslems anyway, particularly those residing in this country where, he claims, "their contact with a strange civilization has turned them into hypocrites of the worst type." The fact that Moslem grocers in Iowa, Ohio, California and Michigan handle liquors and pork products and nearly all Moslem diplomats at the United Nations and in Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco freely indulge in drinking greatly disturbs him. The "behaviour" of many Moslem students in America doesn't impress him either. 

A few of the Moslem groups in the United States have alleged, in letters to a prominent Moslem leader abroad, that Mr. Elijah Muhammad's followers "aren't taught to perform their daily prayers." Mr. Muhammad emphatically denies this, saying that "the day is nearing when you will see them climbing to the top of minarets, proclaiming the Glory of Allah, and flocking to the mosques as good Moslems do in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Morocco and Pakistan." According to Mr. Muhammad, a mosque will be erected for Moslems wherever there is a Temple of Islam in America, the latter being a lecture hall or "place of instruction for those seeking the Truth-Islam."

Of all the Moslem leaders in this country, Mr. Muhammad is the only one who has shown any amount of concern for the education of Moslem children. The University of Islam in Chicago is a living proof of his desire to see it to that Moslem children are given an education that equals the best in Christian public schools.

Mr. Muhammad also hold the unique distinction of being a "protector" of Moslem women. His teachings include a number of strict regulations that women members of his Temples of Islam must abide by: full-length, high-neck, long-sleeve dresses; no dancing or night-clubbing; segregation of sexes at Temple services. Mr. Muhammad tells his male followers to respect their sisters-in-Islam in the same manner in which they would respect their blood sisters. It is no exaggeration to state that a Moslem follower of Mr. Elijah Muhammad would quickly lay down his life rather than see a sister molested or dishonored.

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OCT.-NOV.-DEC. 1956    9