The Mysterious Life of W.D. Muhammad [Editing]
By: J. Lovemore
Tags: History, BlackLivesMatter, Black History, Islam, Civil Rights

The Mysterious Life of W.D. Muhammad [Editing]

Painting of Wallace Muhammad (Source Image)

He created one of the most prolific religious organizations in the world. His views were divided by many; a prophetic teacher by his followers, and a idiosyncratic radical by critics. Wallace Fard Muhammad was a iconic figure before his time. He advocated the significance of black independence from Aryan society. Fard developed the idea of “Black Lives Matter” even before it became a trending hashtag. Although his contributions in black culture is vital, his upbringing and disappearance from the public eye remains a mystery.

Background

Photo of Minister W.D Muhammad. (Source Image)

Although Minister W.D Muhammad was the architect of the foundation of the Black Muslims, his background remains an enigma in the world. His birth information and documents that provide details to his upbringing has created a conundrum for archivists. However, his religious lessons in black perception are indelible.

Numerous sources, one included research from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, came to the culmination that there are any accurate details regarding Fard’s fostering. Documentation that covers his life and career is only recorded in four years (1930–1934).

In FBI reports, Fard was born in 1891 in New Zealand. In Fard’s accounts, he was born in Mecca in the trip of Koreish, to wealthy parents. Some speculate that Fard was born in Saudi Arabia. According to Fard, he was born in the holy city of Mecca where his mother was a Caucasian woman giving him easy access to congregate with white civilians.

In 1913, he reportedly migrated to America and settled in Portland, Oregon. According to reports, he was arrested for numerous crimes; such as alcohol and drug possession. In 1926, It was recorded that Fard served a prison sentence at San Quentin Correction Facility. After his release, he moved to Detroit, Michigan. He stated that he resided in America to free black Americans from their form of living, as it was “half slave and half free.”

Fard worked deficient jobs during his arrival in Detroit. His employment roles included selling silks and umbrellas to numerous black communities in the city. While working his odd jobs, he would inform his African American customers that he was born in Mecca. He gained notoriety while instructing his patrons on a pork-free diet, as a result, helped improve their health.

Birth of a Nation

Members of the Fruit of Islam (Getty’s Image)

Fard was the founding leader of the Nation of Islam, an African American new spiritual group that originated in Detroit, Michigan. The organization’s motives are to improve the spiritual, mental, and economic circumstances of the black race in America. His teachings urged African Americans to prepare for a race war, and the Christian religion was the creation of slaveowners. Fard also taught his followers that the African race is the most superior social group in the world. His teachings stressed the idea that black people were the first race to birth the earth, and referred to the Aryan group as “devils.”

One of his most memorable lessons was the story of Yakub. The latter was an African born scientist who created the white race around 6,600 years ago, Yakub composed an experiment which included genetic engineering that led to the formation of the Anglo ethnic group. He preached that their blood is tainted, forcing them to become brutal to the black nation.

The organization’s goals were to tutor black followers about independence; creating stores, and non-subordination from outside races, most notably Anglo Americans. The majority of his supporters were black, most notably migrants who transitioned from southern states during the Great Migration.

As the organization grew in capacity, Fard organized different layers of the group. He created headquarters for the Nation of Islam in its founding state. He developed the University of Islam, a progressive learning institution for children and adolescents. Fard founded the Fruit of Islam, a security unit primarily centered on male members.

Disappearance

Portrait of Minister Fard Muhammad (Getty’s Images)

In 1933, Fard mysteriously vanished from the public eye; as membership in the Nation of Islam feverishly began to expand in numbers. He moved from Detroit after an incident involving two NOI members. Robert Karriem, last name Harris, fatally stabbed James J. Smith in the heart. The former composed a makeshift altar that included human sacrifice. During his arrest.

Karriem stated that he was inspired by a book that was authored by Fard entitled “ Secret Rituals of the Lost-Found Nation of Islam” where it quotes “The believer must be stabbed through the heart.” Fard later goes on by writing “Every son of Islam must gain a victory from a devil. Four victories and the son will attain his reward.” During his arrest, Karriem was declared legally insane.

The incident brought critical notoriety in the NOI. Fard confessed to his followers that his leadership was filled with maliceful tendencies and made the drastic decision to stray away from the organization, and leave Detroit. It was during this period that he was mentoring a young newcomer of the NOI. Fard began to instruct Elijah Poole, a newly initiated member of the group, who adopted the name, Muhammad. On December 7th, he left Detroit and moved to Chicago.

A year later, after getting into legal trouble he returned to Detroit, after granting Elijah Muhammad leadership over to the NOI he vanished permanently.

Legacy

Fard’s legacy was composed of a plethora of different conspiracies. His history has causes researchers to scratching their heads. Although his life remains a mystery, his accomplishments in African American history remains relevant. His views were extreme yet ahead of its time.

His innovative cultivations have inspired millions and have molded NOI members who have transitioned into prominent black leaders, such as the late Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan.

Wallace Fard Muhammad is a mystery in black studies.

His background is a riddle, but his contributions will forever remain noticeable.

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Britannica. 2020. Wallace D. Fard | American Religious Leader. [online] Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wallace-D-Fard> [Accessed 12 October 2020].

Kavanaugh, K., 2020. Mystery Man. [online] Detroit Metro Times. Available at: <https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/mystery-man/Content?oid=2175649> [Accessed 12 October 2020].

Vice.com. 2020. Remembering Master Fard Muhammad. [online] Available at: <https://www.vice.com/en/article/9bn7ae/remembering-master-fard-muhammad> [Accessed 12 October 2020].