Master Fard's identity, origins, appearance, and disappearance remain mysterious and controversial. Others, however, suggest that he was killed by [Sheik Claude] Greene's partisans. He arrived in Detroit in 1930 with an obscure background and several aliases, and taught an idiosyncratic form of what he considered Islam to members of the city's black population. She is first hypnotized by his voice, then by his message. [10], The annual Saviour's Day event is held in honor of Master Fard's birth. Others asserted that he had returned to Mecca to prepare for his eventual return. More about myself I will not tell you yet, for the time has not yet come. [41] Immigration records did not match any of his aliases. After Wallace had renamed the group the World Community of Al-Islam (one of many name changes to follow), Farrakhan was able to reconstitute the NOI under his own auspices in 1979. This would suggest he was, in fact, diabetic. Contemporary American Religion. There were rumors about his whereabouts until the 1990s, when some believed he was still alive and living somewhere in California. Also, in many ways, the Nation of Islams depiction of him as God could only work and be credible to potential members if his origins remained obscure and his disappearance permanent.. Either way, most people who have investigated his life have come to the conclusion that he was probably mixed race and may have emigrated from New Zealand or the Middle East. She also said she still kept in contact with Ford via letters she sent to his uncle in New Zealand. 1963. But his strict culinary concerns may have emerged from elsewhere: it is said he carried packets of sugar in his coat pocket and is said to have bled easily. In 1959, the FBI issued a smear story to a Chicago newspaper, claiming Fard was a Turk and a fascist sympathizer who had acted as a Nazi spy during World War II. His parents were Zared Fard (a New Zealander whose parents were from an area of East India that eventually became Pakistan) and Beatrice (of New Zealands minority British population). On their marriage record, Ford gave his race as Spanish, his birthplace as Oregon, and his age as 26. Fard, they say, was born in 1877, which would make him 53 in 1930. var referer="";try{if(referer=document.referrer,"undefined"==typeof referer||""==referer)throw"undefined"}catch(exception){referer=document.location.href,(""==referer||"undefined"==typeof referer)&&(referer=document.URL)}referer=referer.substr(0,700); They must live according to the law of Allah, avoiding all meat of 'poison animals', hogs, ducks, geese, possums and catfish. 5 (54) https://68.media.tumblr.com/8baacfedb2c5ff0be7055d0550917d7e/tumblr_ne5vz9XWui1t1ova9o10_500.jpg. [4], Fard was arrested again on January 20, 1926, for violation of the California Woolwine Possession Act,[39] and on February 15, 1926, for violation of the State Poison Act, for which he was sentenced to six months to six years at San Quentin State Prison on June 12, 1926. There are two popular theories regarding Ford/Fard's background - that he was the child of a South Asian/Arabic man and a white woman, or the child of a Maori man and a white woman. Fard, a man who the FBI alleged used 58 aliases during his lifetime, visited Detroit. It was an independent monarchy and other than a few missionaries and traders the population was almost entirely native Hawaiian. In compliance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements, some of these records are no longer in the physical possession of the FBI, eliminating the FBIs capability to re-review and/or re-process this material. The FBI opened an investigation into Fard in 1957 and closed it a year later in 1958. One member of the group, later declared mentally insane, allegedly participated in "human sacrifice" in 1932 in an effort to follow lessons regarding the sacrifice of devils. I guess so, because if you compare their features (ears, nose, chin, mouth, eyes and eyebrows), they're very similar. He declared that he would heal us and set us in heaven at once, if we would submit to Him. On the 1920 U.S. Census, Ford gave his race as White, his birthplace as New Zealand, and his age as 26. [19], In the early stage of his ministry, Fard "used the Bible as his textbook, since it was the only religious book with which the majority of his hearers were familiar. In the 1920 United States Census, his race was reported as white, his occupation as a proprietor of a restaurant, and his place of birth as New Zealand. [25] In 1933, he began signing his name "W. F. Muhammad", which stands for "Wallace Fard Muhammad". The Black Muslims in America. In 1934 he disappeared without a trace. [20], Beynon described disputes and tension that arose between the new community and the police over the group's refusal to send their children to public schools. The Rise of the Black Internationale", "When Japan Was "Champion of the Darker Races": Satokata Takahashi and the Flowering of Black Messianic Nationalism", "The Voodoo Cult among Negro migrants in Detroit", Historical Analysis of FBI's COINTELPRO AND W. Fard Muhammad, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wallace_Fard_Muhammad&oldid=1141937668, Members of the Moorish Science Temple of America, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2022, Articles with disputed statements from July 2019, Articles with trivia sections from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The name Fard is a common surname in Pakistan as are other names he bestowed upon his followers such as Shabazz, Ghulam, and Kallatt, Interviews with long-time Nation figures who met him or saw original photos of him such as, Early teachings from Fard indicated a distrust and disdain for Hinduism, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:20. Others asserted that he had returned to Mecca to prepare for his eventual return. The NOI teaches that Wallace Fard Muhammad was an avatar of Allah, who came to America to educate on this forgotten history. $95 night. He founded the religious movement in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in 1930, and was its leader until 1934, his disappearance. rcel.async = true; A handwritten lesson written by Fard states: "Twelve Leaders of Islam from all over the Planet have conferred in the Root of Civilization concerning the Lost-Found Nation of Islam must return to their original Land. [61], Fard wrote, in his instructions to the leaders of his community, that they should "copy the Answers of Lesson of Minister Elijah Muhammad. Modern Nation of Islam theology is based upon the belief that Fard's teaching of Elijah Muhammad was fulfillment of scripture regarding God's teaching of an Apostle, where Fard is described as "God in Person", the "Messiah", and the "Mahdi". [23] "Within three years the prophet not only began the movement but organized it so well that he himself was able to recede into the background, appearing almost never to his followers during the final months of his residence in Detroit."[24]. They say that he shall soon return in a spaceship and that then the existence of the wicked Yakubians and their rule will end, with a new utopia forged. Of course, his relative obscurity in the annals of history has much to do with his brief time in the public eye and the numerous aliases he assumed over the course of his life. Fard encouraged his followers not to drink alcohol or eat pork, which is standard practice for Muslims. [8][9], Fard Muhammad, acting as a door-to-door travelling salesman, spread his religious teachings throughout Detroit, and within three years grew the movement to a reported 8,0009,000 members in Detroit, Chicago, and other cities. He claimed to have attended Oxford and the University of California, and then to have begun training as a diplomat for the kingdom of Hejaz (now a part of Saudi Arabia). [17] The Quran was soon introduced as the most authoritative of all texts for the study of the faith. Here in America they were living other than themselves. It's possible him and Ford are the same guy. 1, List of people who have been considered deities, "Wallace D. Fard American religious leader", "Nation of Islam at a crossroad as leader exits", "Louis Farrakhan says billionaires 'paying off' black preachers, politicians", "Nation of Islam resonates in Detroit as it returns home for convention", "The Nation of Islam could be Chicago's savior", "Coverage Of "The Voodoo Murders" Mythic Detroit", Appendices: A. The entire movement was placed under a Minister of Islam. Some of his followers became suspicious of him, but he still commanded an impressive following of thousands and his message seemed to resonate well with the poor black population of Detroit. [44], On August 15, 1959, the FBI sent a story to the Chicago New Crusader newspaper, stating that Fard was a "Turkish-born Nazi agent who worked for Hitler in World War II". Interestingly she had found a letter among his personal belongings addressed to one "Fred Dodd" of Portland. Almost everyday we would have conversations (actually friendly debate) about his faith. The effect of both these movements upon the future members of the Nation of Islam was largely indirect. Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/legal-and-political-magazines/fard-w-d-c-1877-1934-religious-and-political-leader. Fard snuck back into Detroit in January 1933, but was identified by authorities, arrested in May and again ordered to leave the city. Part of Fard's teaching also involved admiration for Japan. Artists who have made references within their music include Jay-Z ("I'm going to chase the Yacub back in the cave"[69]), Jay Electronica ("Lost tribe of Shabazz stylin' on the record", "The son of W.D., who hung around in the D, Who ran around in the three, The trap gods raised me, Face all on the Sphinx, Story all in the wall of the pyramids, Niggas know the Black God saved me"[69]), Brand Nubian ("This Asiatic black man is a dog spelled backwards, The maker, the owner, the cream of the planet earth, Father of civilization, God of the universe, Manifestin thought with my infinite styles, Making sure this travels twenty-three million miles, The other six I set the crucifix, Because the heart of the problem is this."[70]), and Ras Kass in the song "Riiiot" ("Now I got niggas claiming they saw God unfortunately, he wasn't in the person of Master Fard Muhammad").[71]. Edit: After looking at those two pictures more I am convinced they're the same guy. [31], From the FBI's response to the Freedom of Information Act request, Evanzz claimed that Fard, using the name Fred Dodd, married Pearl Allen in Multnomah County, Oregon, on May 9, 1914, with their first child, a son, born the next year. In fact, some of the most mysterious individuals who have graced this Earth have left the most indelible marks upon our books and records. "[58], Beynon also wrote: "The prophets message was characterized by his ability to utilize to the fullest measure the environment of his followers. He said that he loved us (the so-called Negroes), his lost and found, so well that he would eat rattlesnakes to free us if necessary, for he has power over all things. [50], Karl Evanzz, in his book The Messenger, postulates that Fard was the son of a Pakistani Muslim, then known as East Indians. The NOI teaches that Wallace Fard Muhammad was an avatar of Allah, who came to America to educate on this forgotten history. Evanzz detailed the experience of several other authors who also based their accounts of Fard's life on the FBI file. A few of them had come under the influence of the Moorish-American cult which succeeded it. His most trusted lieutenant and chief minister of Islam, Elijah Karriem Muhammad, the former Robert Elijah Poole of Sandersville, Georgia, eventually won control and reestablished the Nation of Islam in Chicago, with Temple No. Hijrah Magazine (MarchApril 1985). r d / (born February 26, 1877) was a co-founder of the Nation of Islam. [68][bettersourceneeded]. MSN Weather tracks it all, from precipitation predictions to severe weather warnings, air quality updates, and even wildfire alerts. They say that he shall soon return in a spaceship and that then the existence of the wicked Yakubians and their rule will end, with a new utopia forged. Practically none of them had been in the North prior to the collapse of the Marcus Garvey movement. From then onwards, he is untraceable. Wallace Fard came to Detroit in the early 1930s and, in-between peddling silks and perfumes, preaches a unique brand of Islam to the local black population. The ATI was disbanded as ordered, though in name only; as the Nation of Islam, it continued to grow. Consequently, Fard and another leader, Ugan Ali, were arrested and questioned. [32][33], Dodd left his family in 1916 and moved to Los Angeles, using the name Wallie Dodd Ford. Islam in the African AmericanExperience. Members of the movement believe Fard to be the incarnation of Allh, and his birthday, February 26, is observed as Saviours Day. On the other hand, in a speech made on April 1, 2001, titled The Greatness of Master Fard Muhammad, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan reiterated Fards origins in the Holy City of Mecca, and referred to him as the Mahdi, a man absolutely guided by God in the Islam faith. WebFind out who lives on Wallace Rd, Oswego, KS 67356. [12], Fard taught a form of black exceptionalism and self-pride to poor Southern blacks during the Great Northward Migration at a time when old ideas of scientific racism were prevalent. Officials said he came to the United States from Asia.". Obviously, there are some major differences of opinion here. In 1934 he disappeared without a trace. "The society cannot be blamed for anything he did," Ali was quoted in the Detroit News, November 23, 1932. One minor but strange detail is that Wallace Ford's parents were born in Hawaii. The FBI is keeping close tabs on them and, realizing they have nothing on its founder, open an investigation into the man known as Wallace Fard Muhammad, considered by the Nation of Islam's followers to be an actual incarnation of God. How did the founder of a group that recruited men like Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali slip under the radar so easily? He also stated that his father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Illinois. Similarly, biblical prophecies and the teachings of Marcus Garvey and Noble Drew Ali were cited as foretelling the coming of the new prophet". [38], The search produced two Fords of interest, one of whom was Wallace Ford, a prominent movie actor. [45] According to the FBI story, Fard was a "Muslim from Turkey who had come to the United States in the early 1900s. In 1933, Fard disappeared and a power struggle within the NOI emerged. He also taught us to give up all evil doings and practices and do righteousness or be destroyed from the face of the earth. According to the version of Elijah, he saw Fard off at the Detroit airport when Fard was being deported. His concepts attracted hundreds of followers to the Allah Temple of Islam (ATI), as he called his group. Otherwise he would chastise us with a severe chastisement until we did submit. ", so I don't know. A son born to Allen during their marriage, Donald Campagna, is believed to be the result of an extramarital affair. There is no consensus about Master Fard's identity. Some blame the police, the FBI, or rival leaders within the NOI. He disappeared in 1934 after several arrests in Detroit and Elijah Muhammad took over as leader of the Nation of Islam. 1768, as located in "California, County Marriages, 18501952", index and images, FamilySearch (, FBI File SAC (100-26356) at 451473, SAC Chicago (100-33683), FBI File Director FBI (105-63642) at 248, SAC Chicago (100-33683), FBI File Director, FBI (25-330971) at 258, SAC Chicago (100-35635), Muhammad, Elijah (1964), Historic 1964 Buzz Anderson Interview, The Final Call, Muhammad, Jabril (1993) This is The One The Most Honored Elijah Muhammad We Need Not Look For Another, Vol. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. The FBI report states that fingerprints from Muhammads arrests in Detroit match Fords fingerprints from arrests in Los Angeles. How that ALLAH would separate us from the Devils and, then destroy them; and Change us into a New and Perfect People; and Fill the Earth with FREEDOM, JUSTICE and EQUALITY as it was filled with wickedness; and Making we, the Poor Lost-Founds, the Perfect RULERS."[25]. See alsoAfrican-American Religions; Black Muslims; Islam; Malcolm X; Muhammad, Elijah Karriem; Muhammad, Warith Deen; Nation of Islam; Qur'an. He began to denounce the Bible, criticizing its passages, to the shock of his followers, until eventually he phased out his Bible readings and began teaching from the Quran. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Leader of the Nation of Islam He also listed his race as Caucasian and his birthdate as February 26, 1893. [45], A February 19, 1963, FBI memorandum states: "In connection with efforts to disrupt and curb growth of the NOI, extensive research has been conducted into various files maintained by this office. Attendances to his sermons rapidly grow over the next three years and then suddenly, without announcing his departure, he disappears, never to be seen or heard from again. But as a prerequisite for black liberation, he stressed the importance of attaining "knowledge of self." Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The true origins of W. D. Fard remain mired in obscurity. [64][65] Fard wrote the following for his followers: "[T]he LESSONS that OUR SAVIOUR (ALLAH) gave us to Study and Learn is the Fulfillment of the Prophecies of All the Former Prophets concerning the Beginning of the Devils, and the Ending of the Civilization, and of our Enslavement by the Devils, and Present Time of our Delivery from the Devils by OUR SAVIOUR (ALLAH). 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