Founder of the Moorish Science Temple of America (1886–1929)
Drew Ali
Drew Ali in 1925
Born
Timothy Drew
(1886-01-08)January 8, 1886
North Carolina, United States
Died
July 20, 1929(1929-07-20) (aged 43)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Cause of death
tuberculosis and bronchopneumonia[1]
Resting place
Burr Oak Cemetery
Spouse
Pearl Drew Ali & Mary Drew Ali
Noble Drew Ali, possibly born as Timothy Drew or Thomas Drew, (January 8, 1886 – July 20, 1929), was an American religious leader who, in the early 20th century, founded a series of organizations that he ultimately placed under the umbrella title, the Moorish Science Temple of America; including the Canaanite Temple (1913–1916), the Moorish Divine and National Movement (1916–1925), the Moorish Temple of Science (1925–1928), and the Moorish Science Temple of America (1928 onwards). [2][3] Considered a prophet by his followers,[2] he founded the Canaanite Temple in 1913 while living in Newark, New Jersey. From there, he made his way westward and eventually settled in Chicago between 1922 and 1925. Upon reaching Chicago, his movement would gain thousands of converts under his instruction.[3] Upon the murder of a rival Moorish Science Temple leader, Drew Ali was arrested (but never charged) and sent to jail; he died on July 20th, 1929, shortly after being released.
It is traditionally held that Drew Ali founded the first officially state-registered Islamic organization in U.S. history, and was the first American-born Islamic religious leader.[4] Although the Moorish Science Temple of America has largely declined, Drew Ali's legacy is significant because of its influence on the founding and ideology of the Nation of Islam. From a Sunni Islamic perspective, Drew Ali's Islamic teaching inroads are generally held as no more than a romanticized history. This is because there is no evidence that he taught the Sunni-fiqh 'tarbiyah' (aka Islamic-pedagogical) prerequisite, salat (prayer), sawm (fasting), or even directly quoted the Quran of Muhammad, in any of his literature. In fact there was a negative ruling in Sunni Islamic law given by a recognized authority (fatwa) against assertions that Drew Ali taught Islam by Sunni-tarbiyah standards.[5]
^Perkins, p. 186, as well as other less reputable sources. Perkins cites "Standard Certificate of Death No. 22054, Timothy Drew, issued July 25, 1929, Office of Cook County Clerk, Cook County, Illinois". The certificate was filed by Dr. Clarence Payne-El, who was reportedly at Drew Ali's bedside when he died. See also Scopino.
^ abGomez, Michael A. (2005). "Chapter 6: Breaking Away – Noble Drew Ali and the Foundations of Contemporary Islam in African America". Black Crescent: The Experience and Legacy of African Muslims in the Americas. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 200–217. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511802768.008. ISBN 9780511802768. LCCN 2004027722.
^ ab"Noble Drew Ali | American religious leader". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
^Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Majid, Satti Shaykh (1997). "Report (For Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Abü Salim, to commemorate his retirement from the Secretary-General of the National Records Office, Khartoum)". A Sudanese Missionary to the United States: Satti Majid Shaykh Islam in North America: 145.
NobleDrewAli, possibly born as Timothy Drew or Thomas Drew, (January 8, 1886 – July 20, 1929), was an American religious leader who, in the early 20th...
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names included Muhammad, Ali, Karriem, and Fardan. Scholars note that new names had previously been given by NobleDrewAli of the Moorish Science Temple...
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incorporated New Thought doctrines into a blend of Methodism and Calvinism. NobleDrewAli's Moorish Science was influenced by New Thought and in turn influenced...
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account connected to the group says its goal is to continue the work of NobleDrewAli, founder of the Moorish Science Temple of America. According to The...
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provide low cost housing using government tax credits. He purchased the NobleDrewAli Plaza in Brownsville, Brooklyn for $21 million, and plans to add massive...
event was organized by many civil rights and religious organizations and drew men and their sons from across the United States of America. Many other distinguished...
estimates. He inspired the boxer Muhammad Ali to join the Nation, and the two became close. In January 1964, Ali brought Malcolm X and his family to Miami...
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