c. 1997 Religion News Service
UNDATED _ Key beliefs of the Nation of Islam include:
_ W. Fard Muhammad, the mysterious founder of the sect, whose origins remain unclear and who disappeared in 1934, was God incarnate, and that Elijah Muhammad, his successor, was God’s messenger, or prophet.
_ White people were created some 6,500 years ago by a black scientist named Yakub who did so in rebellion against Allah. This is the basis for the Nation’s belief in black supremacy and white inferiority.
Although both profess faith in Allah, or God, the Nation’s beliefs differ significantly from those of mainstream, or orthodox, Islam.
Mainstream Muslims consider Muhammad, born in Mecca in 570 A.D., as Allah’s final prophet and reject the notion that God took human form _ either as W. Fard Muhammad or Jesus Christ.
DEA END RIFKIN