Timothy Drew,
better known as Noble Drew Ali (January 8, 1886 – July 20, 1929) founded the
Moorish Science Temple of America
The Moorish Science Temple of America is an American national and religious organization founded by Noble Drew Ali (born as Timothy Drew) in the early twentieth century. He based it on the premise that African Americans are descendants of the Moa ...
. Considered a
prophet
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...
by his followers, in 1913 he founded the Canaanite Temple in
Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, before relocating to
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
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, subdivision_name ...
, where he gained a following of thousands of converts.
Following the murder of a rival Moorish Science Temple leader, Drew Ali was arrested (but never charged) and sent to jail; he died in 1929 shortly after being released.
Early life
Several details of Drew Ali's early life are uncertain, as true information became mixed with that of legend by his devout followers.
He is believed to have been born Timothy Drew, on January 8, 1886, in
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
.
[Wilson, p. 15; Gomez, p. 203; Paghdiwala; Gale Group.] Sources differ as to his background and upbringing: one reports he was the orphaned son of two former
slaves
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
born in a
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
tribe,
while another describes him as the son of John A. Drew-Quitman, military and political leader of the Cherokee (Coharie) Nation and Eliza Turner-Quitman full blooded Washitaw-Tunica mother.
One version of his life, common among members of the Moorish Science Temple, holds that Drew was raised by an abusive aunt, who once threw him into a furnace.
This version holds that he left home at 16 and joined a band of
Romani people
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sig ...
who took him overseas to
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
, and the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
.
Drew Ali also reportedly worked as a circus magician, or a merchant seaman, before purportedly traveling to
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
.
He never received a formal education, but at some point came into contact with
Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy or Asian philosophy includes the various philosophies that originated in East and South Asia, including Chinese philosophy, Japanese philosophy, Korean philosophy, and Vietnamese philosophy; which are dominant in East Asia, ...
.
In 2014, a completely different understanding of Drew Ali's early life was presented with the publication of an article in the online ''Journal of Race Ethnicity and Religion''.
[Abdat, Fathie "Before the Fez-Life and Times of Drew Ali", ''Journal of Race Ethnicity and Religion'', Vol 5, No 8, August 201]
[1
/nowiki>">">[1
/nowiki>/ref> The article presented newly compiled evidence, including census records, newspaper ads, newspaper articles, a World War I draft card, and street directory records, to link Noble Drew Ali to one "Thomas Drew," who was born on the same date as "Timothy Drew" but originated from Virginia instead.
Religious formation
Drew Ali reported that during his travels in Egypt, he met a high priest of Egyptian magic. In one version of Drew Ali's biography, the leader saw him as a reincarnation of the founder. In others, he claims that the priest considered him a reincarnation of Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad and other religious prophets. According to the biography, the high priest trained Ali in mysticism and gave him a "lost section" of the Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
.
This text came to be known as the ''Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple of America'' (not to be confused with the Islamic Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
). It is also known as the "''Circle Seven Koran''" because of its cover, which features a red "7" surrounded by a blue circle. The first 19 chapters are from ''The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ
The ''Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ'' (full title: ''The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ: The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the Aquarian Age of the World and of the Church Universal'') is a book by Levi H. Dowling. ...
,'' published in 1908 by esoteric Ohio preacher Levi Dowling
Levi H. Dowling (18 May 1844 – 13 August 1911) was an American preacher who authored '' The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ'' (1908).
Life
He was born in Bellville, Ohio. His father, of Scots and Welsh descent, was a pioneer preacher among ...
. In ''The Aquarian Gospel'', Dowling described Jesus's supposed travels in India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
, and Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
during the years of his life which are not accounted for by the New Testament.
Chapters 20 through 45 are borrowed from the Rosicrucian work, ''Unto Thee I Grant'', with minor changes in style and wording. They are instructions on how to live, and the education and duties of adherents.
Drew Ali wrote the last four chapters of the Circle Seven Koran himself. In these he wrote:
Drew Ali used this material to claim Jesus and his followers were Asiatic. ("Asiatic" was the term Drew Ali used for all dark or olive-colored people); he labeled whites as European, although he labeled whites who became a part of the MSTA as "Persians" or "Celts". He suggested that all Asiatics should be allied.[Nance, Susan. (2002) "Mystery of the Moorish Science Temple: Southern Blacks and American Alternative Spirituality in 1920s Chicago"](_blank)
, ''Religion and American Culture
''Religion and American Culture'' is a biannual academic journal published by University of California Press on behalf of the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture (Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis). The journa ...
'' 12, no. 2 (Summer): 123–166, accessed 29 Aug 2009
Drew Ali believed that African Americans were all Moors
The term Moor, derived from the ancient Mauri, is an exonym first used by Christian Europeans to designate the Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Malta during the Middle Ages.
Moors are not a distinct or ...
, who he claimed were descended from the ancient Moabites (describing them as belonging to Northwest Africa as opposed to Moab
Moab ''Mōáb''; Assyrian: 𒈬𒀪𒁀𒀀𒀀 ''Mu'abâ'', 𒈠𒀪𒁀𒀀𒀀
''Ma'bâ'', 𒈠𒀪𒀊 ''Ma'ab''; Egyptian: 𓈗𓇋𓃀𓅱𓈉 ''Mū'ībū'', name=, group= () is the name of an ancient Levantine kingdom whose territo ...
as the name suggests). He claimed that Islam and its teachings are more beneficial to their earthly salvation, and that their 'true nature' had been 'withheld' from them. Male members of the Temple wear a fez
Fez most often refers to:
* Fez (hat), a type of felt hat commonly worn in the Ottoman Empire
* Fez, Morocco (or Fes), the second largest city of Morocco
Fez or FEZ may also refer to:
Media
* ''Fez'' (Frank Stella), a 1964 painting by the moder ...
or turban
A turban (from Persian دولبند, ''dulband''; via Middle French ''turbant'') is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with promine ...
as head covering; women wear a turban.
As Drew Ali began urging the "Moorish-Americans" to become better citizens, he made speeches like, "A Divine Warning By the Prophet for the Nations", in which he urged them to reject derogatory labels, such as "Black," " colored," and "Negro
In the English language, ''negro'' is a term historically used to denote persons considered to be of Black African heritage. The word ''negro'' means the color black in both Spanish and in Portuguese, where English took it from. The term can be ...
." He urged Americans of all races to reject hate and embrace love. He believed that Chicago would become a second Mecca
Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
.
Drew Ali crafted Moorish Science ideology from a variety of sources, a "network of alternative spiritualities that focused on the power of the individual to bring about personal transformation through mystical knowledge of the divine within". In the interwar period
In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...
in Chicago and other major cities, he used these concepts to preach Moorish pride. His approach appealed to thousands of African Americans who had left severely oppressive conditions in the South through the Great Migration and faced struggles adapting in new urban environments.
Founding the Moorish Science Temple
It is possible that Drew Ali did actually travel to Egypt and Morocco, but historians believe that after leaving North Carolina, he moved to Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
, New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, where he worked as a train expressman. In 1913, Drew Ali formed the Canaanite Temple in Newark.[Paghdiwala] Drew Ali and his followers migrated, while planting congregations in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
; Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, and Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
. Finally, Drew Ali settled in Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
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, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
in 1925, saying the Midwest
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
was "closer to Islam." The following year he officially registered Temple No. 9.
There he instructed followers not to be confrontational but to build up their people to be respected. In this way, they might take their place in the United States of America by developing a cultural identity that was congruent with Drew Ali's beliefs on personhood. In the late 1920s, journalists estimated the Moorish Science Temple had 35,000 members in 17 temples in cities across the Midwest and upper South.
The ushers of the Temple wore black fezzes. The leader of a particular temple was known as a Grand Sheik, or Governor. Noble Drew Ali was known to have had several wives. According to '' The Chicago Defender'', he claimed the power to marry and divorce at will. The Moorish Science movement was reportedly studied and watched by the Chicago police.
Drew Ali attended the 1929 inauguration of Illinois Governor
The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...
Louis Lincoln Emmerson. ''The'' ''Chicago Defender'' stated that his trip included "interviews with many distinguished citizens from Chicago, who greeted him on every hand." With the growth in its population and membership, Chicago was established as the center of the Moorish Science movement.
Internal split and murder
In early 1929, following a conflict over funds, Claude Green-Bey, the business manager of Chicago Temple No. 1 split from the Moorish Science Temple of America. He declared himself Grand Sheik and took a number of members with him. On March 15, Green-Bey was stabbed to death at the Unity Hall of the Moorish Science Temple, on Indiana Avenue in Chicago.
Drew Ali was out of town at the time, as he was dealing with former Supreme Grand Governor Lomax-Bey (professor Ezaldine Muhammad), who had supported Green-Bey's attempted coup. When Drew Ali returned to Chicago, the police arrested him and other members of the community on suspicion of having instigated the killing. No indictment was sworn for Drew Ali at that time.
Death
Shortly after his release by the police, Drew Ali died at age 43 at his home in Chicago on July 20, 1929. Although the exact circumstances of his death are unknown, the Certificate of Death stated that Noble Drew Ali died from "tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
broncho-pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
". Despite the official report, many of his followers speculated that his death was caused by injuries from the police or from other members of the faith.
Others thought it was due to pneumonia. One Moor told ''The Chicago Defender'' that "The Prophet was not ill; his work was done and he laid his head upon the lap of one of his followers and passed out." His funeral took place on July 25, 1929, with hundreds attending. The services were held at the Pythian Temple in Chicago, followed by the burial at Burr Oak Cemetery
Burr Oak Cemetery is a cemetery located in Alsip, Illinois, United States, a suburb southwest of Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1927, Burr Oak was one of the few early Chicago cemeteries focused on the needs of the African-American community, ...
in nearby Alsip.
The death of Drew Ali brought out a number of candidates who vied to succeed him. Edward Mealy El
Edward Mealy El (born Edward Mealy; September 17, 1870 – 1935), often known as E. Mealy El, was an American religious leader who was Noble Drew Ali's successor as head of the Moorish Science Temple of America. He was appointed the first Assista ...
stated that he had been declared Drew Ali's successor by Drew Ali himself, while John Givens-El, Drew Ali's chauffeur, declared that he was Drew Ali reincarnated. However, the governors of the Moorish Science Temple of America declared Charles Kirkman-Bey to be the successor to Drew Ali and named him Grand Advisor.
Legacy
Wallace Fard Muhammad, the founder of Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930.
A black nationalist organization, the NOI focuses its attention on the African diaspora, especially on African ...
, was previously a prominent member of the Moorish Science Temple of America, where he was known as David Ford-El. After Drew Ali's death, he claimed to be the Prophet reincarnated.
When his leadership was largely rejected, he broke away from the Moorish Science Temple, moved to Detroit, and founded the Nation of Islam. Nation of Islam leaders denied any historical connection to the Moorish Science Temple of America, until February 26, 2014, when Louis Farrakhan acknowledged Noble Drew Ali's contribution to the Nation of Islam.
In 1986, the Moroccan Ambassador to the United States officially recognized the Moorish Science Temple's Islamic linkage to Morocco through Drew Ali.
See also
* Islam in the United States
* Liberation theology
* Malcolm X
* Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, 1897 – February 25, 1975) was an African American religious leader, black separatist, and self-proclaimed Messenger of Allah, who led the Nation of Islam (NOI) from 1934 until his de ...
* Religion of black Americans
Religion of black Americans refers to the religious and spiritual practices of African Americans. Historians generally agree that the religious life of black Americans "forms the foundation of their community life". Before 1775 there was scat ...
Notes and references
Notes
References
* Ali, Noble Prophet Drew (1928), ''Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple of America''
* Abdat, Fathie Ali (2014
"Before the Fez- Life and Times of Drew Ali 1886–1924"
''Journal of Race, Ethnicity and Religion'', 5: 1–39.
* Abu Shouk, Ahmed I. (1997) "A Sudanese Missionary to the United States", ''Sudanic Africa'', 9:137–191.
* Ahlstrom, Sydney E. (2004) ''A Religious History of the American People'', 2nd ed., Yale University Press, .
* Blakemore, Jerome; Yolanda Mayo; Glenda Blakemore (2006) "African-American and Other Street Gangs: A Quest of Identity (Revisted)", ''Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective'', Letha A. See, ed., The Haworth Press .
* ''Chicago Defender
''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...
'' (1929) "Drew Ali, 'Prophet' of Moorish Cult, Dies Suddenly", July 27, 1929, page 1.
* ''Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' (May 1929) "Cult Head Took Too Much Power, Witnesses Say", May 14, 1929.
* ''Chicago Tribune'' (September 1929) "Seize 60 After So. Side Cult Tragedy", September 26, 1929, p. 1.
Gale Group, "Timothy Drew"
''Religious Leaders of America'', 2nd ed., 1999, Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2007.
* Gardell, Mattias (1996) ''In the Name of Elijah Muhammad''. Duke University Press, .
*
* Gomez, Michael A. (2005
''Black Crescent: The Experience and Legacy of African Muslims in the Americas''
Cambridge University Press, .
* Hamm, Mark S. (2007)
Terrorist Recruitment in American Correctional Institutions: An Exploratory Study of Non-Traditional Faith Groups Final Report
', U.S. Department of Justice, December 2007, Document No.: 220957.
* ''The Hartford Courant'' (1930) "Religious Cult Head Sentenced For Murder", April 19, 1930, p. 20.
* Lippy, Charles H. (2006) ''Faith in America: Changes, Challenges, New Directions'', Praeger Publishers, .
* Main, Frank (2006) ''Chicago Sun-Times'', June 25, 2006, p. A03.
* McCloud, Aminah (1994) ''African American Islam'', Routledge.
* Miyakawa, Felicia M. (2005)
', Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, .
* Nance, Susan. (2002) "Respectability and Representation: The Moorish Science Temple, Morocco and Black Public Culture in 1920s Chicago", ''American Quarterly
''American Quarterly'' is an academic journal and the official publication of the American Studies Association. The journal covers topics of both domestic and international concern in the United States and is considered a leading resource in the ...
'' 54, no. 4 (December): 623–659.
* Nash, Jay Robert (1993) ''World Encyclopedia of Organized Crime'', Da Capo Press, .
* Nashashibi, Rami (2007) "The Blackstone Legacy, Islam, and the Rise of Ghetto Cosmopolitanism", ''Souls'', Volume 9, Issue 2 April 2007, pages 123–131.
* Paghdiwala, Tasneem (2007)
"The Aging of the Moors"
''Chicago Reader
The ''Chicago Reader'', or ''Reader'' (stylized as ЯEADER), is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded by a ...
'', November 15, 2007, Vol 37 No 8.
* Perkins, William Eric (1996) ''Droppin' Science: Critical Essays on Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture'', Temple University Press.
* Prashad, Vijay (2002) ''Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting: Afro-Asian Connections and the Myth of Cultural Purity'', Beacon Press, .
* Scopino Jr., A. J. (2001) "Moorish Science Temple of America", in ''Organizing Black America: An Encyclopedia of African American Associations'', Nina Mjagkij, ed., Garland Publishing, p. 346.
* Shipp, E.R. (1985) "Chicago Gang Sues to Be Recognized as Religion", ''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'', Dec 27, 1985, p. A14.
* Turner, Richard Brent (2003) ''Islam in the African-American Experience'', Indiana University Press, .
* ''The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' (1929), "Three Deaths Laid to Fanatical Plot", September 27, 1929, p. 2.
* Wilson, Peter Lamborn (1993) ''Sacred Drift: Essays on the Margins of Islam'', City Lights Books, .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drew Ali, Noble
Place of birth unknown
1886 births
1929 deaths
African-American activists
19th-century Islamic religious leaders
20th-century deaths from tuberculosis
20th-century Islamic religious leaders
Activists from North Carolina
Activists from New Jersey
Activists from Illinois
African-American Muslims
African-American religious leaders
American circus performers
American Muslim activists
American railroaders
Burials at Burr Oak Cemetery
Converts to Islam
Cult leaders
Deaths from bronchopneumonia
Founders of new religious movements
Members of the Moorish Science Temple of America
Moorish Science Temple of America
People from North Carolina
Prophecy in Islam
Prophets
Religious leaders from Chicago
Religion in Newark, New Jersey
Tuberculosis deaths in Illinois
Deaths from pneumonia in Illinois