Why do some African-American groups embrace Islam?

October 4th, 2008 | by admin |

  1. 12 Responses to “Why do some African-American groups embrace Islam?”

  2. By MUHAMMAD on Oct 4, 2008 | Reply

    Be it known to you, my friend, that nobody has given mankind such detailed information about God as our Holy Prophet (s). I advise you to have faith in his teachings, to make him your leader and to accept his guidance for your salvation. Thus advising you I have done the best that I can do as a sincere and loving adviser and I assure you that however you may try to find a better way for your good, you will not find any superior to the one advised by me.

  3. By iaioah on Oct 4, 2008 | Reply

    nation of Islam and the Gods and earth arent Islam. and slavery in islam is not how you think it was. they were treated slaves with pride. and those that were being mistreated where bought by muslims and set free. such as Bilal which Muhammad peace be upon him set free. the muslims that had slaves rewarded them and where like family they where basically maids.

  4. By cwstuffff on Oct 5, 2008 | Reply

    I thought maybe they did it for the bow ties.

  5. By mseniorpogi on Oct 6, 2008 | Reply

    Because most of us find the snares and lies of the devil like islam is easier to believe than that of the truth of God and Lord Jesus Christ; Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
    Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
    Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
    Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
    Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
    Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
    Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

    Even in the practical way of life, lies is much easier to be accepted by most of us because, we have inherited the sin nature that runs in our body and soul, Genesis, 3:5-6. Rather than the truth of eternal life;
    Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
    Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

    And Lord Jesus Christ even adds some warning to these scriptures;
    Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
    Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
    Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
    Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
    Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
    Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
    Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
    Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
    Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
    Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
    Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.
    Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
    Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
    AMEN.

  6. By rossonero_2006 on Oct 9, 2008 | Reply

    Like most if not all cults, NOI is good at tickling the ears of potential recrits, telling them what they want to hear (i.e., you’re superior, unseen enemies are out to get you, we’ll protect you from them, this also works with gangs and pimps). Inconvenient facts like the slavery issue you brought up are just labeled lies/distortions. Blacks are still being enslaved under islamic regimes like Sudan and Mauritania, strangeley enough the NOI is unconcerned.

    iaioah: I’m sure the slavemasters in the south claimed to be treating their slaves with pride 150 years ago. Strangely enough, slaves still escaped any chance they got.

  7. By d786 on Oct 11, 2008 | Reply

    Might be you should learn Islam, then you will understand the beauty of Islam, instead of stereotyping it. Go to mosques and you will find the truth about Islam. This is a world where people dont just accept things easily. Islam has given these converts the best answers which they cant deny but just to accept it. Please study it go to Islamic centres or mosques for advises, you will thank me soon, for guiding you to the straight path. Everything that is confusing would be solved please learn Islam, I too wont be surprised after learning you will be a Muslim too.

  8. By history_schmistory on Oct 14, 2008 | Reply

    Perhaps it’s because some African-Americans see a Christianity dominated by conservative whites. In essence, they are rejecting the religion of those they see as the oppressors, and yet, being fundamentally monotheistic, they may naturally gravitate towards Islam.

  9. By wolfmuslim on Oct 15, 2008 | Reply

    If an African Ameican or any race decides to revert to Islam it is because they see that Islam is the religion of God and is the truth. The Nation of Islam is a ****** sexist cult.

  10. By bookworm125913 on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply

    Many African countries are primarily Islamic.

  11. By Action's Fury on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply

    “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate”.

    Why did slavery exist during Islam? And how did Islam deal with it?

    Human equality and the liberation of slaves in Islam:

    Slavery and Racism in the Bible’s Old and New Testaments.

    ISLAM IS THE CONCLUSION OF THE TEACHINGS OF “ABRAHAM (peace be upon him)”, “JESUS (peace be upon him)”, “MOSES(peace be upon him)” AND EVERY OTHER REVEALED RELIGION & PROPHETS.

    Basic misconception about Islam is that it is started by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but this nothing but ignorance of those ppl who say so, Islam ended on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it started with the birth of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).

    Towards which religion COMMON SENSE leads us?

    COMMON SENSE # 1: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said like other true prophets of Allah Abraham, Moses & Jesus (pbut) etc to believe in only ONE true God & not in IDOLS or in many gODS.

    COMMON SENSE # 2: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said believe in Jesus (pbuh) and his revealed book (original one which is lost) and Mosses (pbuh) and his revealed book (original one which is lost) and all revealed books and prophets otherwise u can not be a Muslim. If he is not the true prophet (MAAZ ALLAH) then why he said that believe in them otherwise u will be sent to HELL. Read “EMAN-E-MUFASSIL“ & ” EMAN-E-MUJAMEL “ 2 testify.

    COMMON SENSE # 3: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never said that he is (MAAZ ALLAH)” God “but strictly said that there is only one ALLAH (God) and no one is like him. If he is not the true prophet (MAAZ ALLAH) then why he said that? He called himself as ALLAH’s last prophet & not bragged about himself (MAAZ ALLAH) as God, as so many fake ppl did in history. Allah (S.W.T.) meaning: (the Exalted, Most Glorious) tells mankind that Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) is no more than a Messenger (Quran: 3/144)

    COMMON SENSE # 4: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said like other true prophets before him like Abraham, Moses & Jesus (pbut) about the JUDGEMENT DAY.

    COMMON SENSE #5: If u see Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) in pictures made by Non-Muslims, he has same kind of beard like Muhammad (pbuh) had & Muslims have, And also Mother Marry dress in pictures made by Non-Muslims is exactly 100% same as ISLAM says.

    COMMON SENSE # 6:Non-Muslims say that Muhammad (peace be upon him) plagiarize the Holy Quran from the Holy Bible but this is NOT possible because Muhammad (pbuh) was not educated, then how he could do such a thing?

    COMMON SENSE # 7: Another reason that Muhammad (peace be upon him) can’t plagiarize the Holy Quran from the Holy Bible is that “The Holy Bible at the time of Muhammad (pbuh) was not translated in ARABIC language then how he could plagiarize from it”?

    COMMON SENSE # 8:Non-Muslims claim that Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself wrote the Holy Quran, if so then why his name comes in the Holy Quran only 5 times & Prophet Adam (pbuh) name 25 times , Prophet Abraham (Pbuh) name 63 times, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) name 25 times, Prophet Moses (pbuh) name comes 136 times, , Prophet Noah (pbuh) name comes 43 times, Prophet Hud (pbuh) names comes 7 times, Prophet Salih (Pbuh) names comes 8 times, Prophet Yousuf (pbuh) name comes 26 times, Story of Prophet Younus (pbuh) comes in 6 Surrahs in the Holy Quran & names of some other prophets comes more than the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), If (Maaz Allah) Muhammad (pbuh) wrote the Holy Quran then why not he used his name more than any other prophet?

    COMMON SENSE # 9:If Muhammad (peace be upon him) MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why he used to pray 5 times a day and conveyed the message of ALLAH that this an order from ALLAH, & in ISLAM u can’t pray without performing ablution. Why Muhammad (pbuh) used to pray? What for? For who?

    COMMON SENSE # 10:If Muhammad (peace be upon him) MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why he himself performed “HAJJ” which is the toughest of the pillars of ISLAM, and said that it is FARZ (Imperative) for all Muslims who have the money to afford it. For who? What for?

    COMMON SENSE # 11: Why Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) strictly ordered not to do “SAJDA” before any body but ALLAH. IF he is not MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why he said so? Why not he said do “SAJDA” to me as well?

    COMMON SENSE# 12:If Muhammad (peace be upon him) MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why he used to “FAST” for the whole month of “RAMADAN” for 29 to 30 days without a break & why he most of the time used to PRAY in TARAWEEH (long prayer) and other prayers after the FAST? for who? For what?

    COMMON SENSE# 13:If Muhammad (peace be upon him) MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why he used to give ZAKAAT (Obligatory Charity, Money to poor) and said that this is God’s order and every one who can afford should give ZAKAAT. FITRAA is also a God’s order and it is also giving money to poor ppl. Why he used to do that himself and said that this is IMPERATIVE for all Muslims who ever can afford ZAKAAT & FITRAA. For what and for who?

    COMMON SENSE# 14:If Muhammad (peace be upon him) MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why he used to give KHAIRAT,SADQA,AQIQA,HADYA,KAFFARA etc to poor ppl which is again giving to needy ppl to gain reward from ALLAH.

    COMMON SENSE#15: Even Abraham (Pbuh), Moses (Pbuh) used to dress like Muslims, cover head, beard and thoroughly covered body.

    COMMON SENSE#16: There is a Quranic verse named after mother of Jesus (Pbuh), the name of the verse is Surrah-e-Mayam.If prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is MAAZ ALLAH not a prophet then why not he named the Quranic verse name after his mother? Allah says that he choose Mary above “the women of all nations”. Why not Muhammad (Pbuh)‘s mother if he MAAZ ALLAH wrote the Holy Quran himself. (3:42). AL-E-IMRAN (THE FAMILY OF ‘IMRAN, THE HOUSE OF ‘IMRAN) “Behold! the angel said: ‘God has chosen you and purified you and has chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary! God gives you the good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near to God”.

    COMMON SENSE#17: If Muhammad (Pbuh) is not a TRUE prophet then why he never used alcohol and made it strictly prohibited, which is always use by humans for fake enjoyments. for whom? What for? Why?

    COMMON SENSE#18: When Muhammad (Pbuh) went to MAKKAH to perform Hajj from MEDINA with all of his followers but with no arms when the ppl of MAKKAH were to HOSTILE against Muslims, for whom? What for? Why?

    COMMON SENSE#19:The Prophet’s wife `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, I asked, “Messenger of Allah, why do you exert yourself so much while all your sins have been forgiven?” To this he replied, “`A’ishah, should I not be a grateful servant of Allah?” (Muslim). If he maaz Allah not speaking the truth then for who he used to pray that long? what for?

    COMMON SENSE#20: Muhammad (pbuh) was a posthumous & his mother died, when he was about six, then could he give unimaginable respect to parents?
    (NOT EVEN UFF, TO PARENTS)
    And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” (Interjection of anger, dislike, frustration) and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. – Holy Quran 17:23
    A man once consulted the Prophet Muhammad about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet said: “(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet.” (Al-Tirmidhi) & I can quote for days about parent rights in Islam, how did he know them? Since he hardly had the love of parents.

    I COULD HAVE WRITE TONS OF TONS MORE COMMON SENSES BUT IF I DO THIS, THEN WHAT WILL BE LEFT FOR U TO THINK ABOUT?

    Research & observations from Holy Quran & Sahee Hadith, Religious scholars like Sheikh Ahmed Deedat’s, Dr. Zakir Naik’s ,, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Israr Ahmed etc.

    May Allah help & guide us all, Amen’.

  12. By rose_ovda_night on Oct 20, 2008 | Reply

    1) Islam does not condone the slavery concept that was used by white americans against africans, and never did. The Islamic version of treating a slave is very different.

    2) Voodoo is something evil and used to harm people. Why would you call Africans to make it their pride. Are you trying to make them out to be evil?

  13. By mambomichele on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply

    While I cannot speak to the details about Islam and what makes it appealing as I know relatively little about the religion, I can speak to why African-Americans have a hard time embracing their ancient African traditions such as Vodou, Santeria, etc. As an African-American woman, I can speak from first-hand experience with the way the African Traditional Religions have been maligned. Our traditional ways were intentionally or unintentionally misinterpreted and mis-communicated ever since the invasion of Europeans into Africa which led to the development of the chattel slavery system that brought us to this land. There is no small amount of evidence that this tendency to present African traditions in the most sensational and licentious of terms was used, in part, as justification for the subjugation and enslavement of other human beings by a supposedly civilized and Christian group of people.

    These negative portrayals of ATRs were beaten into Africans brought to the Americas both literally with the lash and figuratively with the Bible. Hence, African traditional ways of honoring God and dealing with our ancestral lines were lost in two ways: 1) ecstatic spiritual practice honoring God through song and dance were subjugated to the confines of white Christianity which led to the development of Spiritualist, Baptist, and Pentecostal Christian traditions here in the US as well as the development of Gospel music and 2) the honoring of the dead and maintaining the family line was lost through the systematic separation of families and the perpetuation of the myth that Africa had no history prior to the invasion of whites.

    Even with the advent of the modern Civil Rights Movement here in the US along with the Black Pride Movement of the 70’s which led to African and African-American studies in colleges and universities, there is very little by way of real African history taught to our children before they encounter these programs in college and, even then, these are not mandatory subjects of study for US college students. Add to this that proportionally fewer African-Americans even get to college than other groups and there are numerous people who never get exposed to properly researched and presented African and African-American history unless their parents, grandparents, etc. are particularly culturally astute.

    Finally, even today, in popular media it is easier to portray Africa, ATRs and African-Americans in the traditional and negative ways we have always been portrayed rather than to us those forms of contact with the public to provide accurate information. It’s just not “sexy” enough for TV or movies to see a mambo or houngan dressed in jeans and a white shirt and scarf praying for over an hour before so much as saying a word to their spirits. It’s much more entertaining and titillating to see someone dressed in freaky clothes ripping the head off an animal and covering him/herself in blood.

    There is, unfortunately, no short answer to this question but opening ones eyes and looking around about how people of African descent are played over and over again in our society begins to scratch the surface of this important topic. Please find below some resources you might find of interest.

    Be well,
    Mambo Michele

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