1900’s
Wills were founded in Washington, DC Archives from 1900-1917 beginning with Islamic salutations “With the Name of God Amen” with names like Hannah Henderson, Fontaine Mahmood, James Moore, Mary Newman, Edward Quader, and Anne Yarrow.
In 1903, Mohammed Asa Abu-Howararrives in New York, moves to Washington, DC. He becomes a successful builder as A. Joseph Howar, who backed the construction of the Islamic Center.
In 1904, at the St. Louis Exposition and World Fair, merchants and visitors came from the Arab world at which time an Arab used a waffle to create an ice cream cone.
In 1905, the US General Land Office grants land title to one Mahmod Ali.
In 1907, the Polish Tartars establish “The American Mohammed Society” in Brooklyn, NY.
In 1908, Muslim immigrants from the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan arrive in North America. They are mainly Turks, Kurds, Albanians, and Arabs.
In 1913, Noble Drew Ali established the Canaanite Temple in Newark, NJ. Noble Drew Ali was born Timothy Drew, January 8, 1886 on a Cherokee reservation in Sampson, North Carolina. There were immediate challenges to Noble Drew Ali’s leadership from within the Moorish community, and by 1916, internal disagreements caused a division of the Moorish-American nation into two groups. One group stayed in Newark, changing its name to the Holy Moabite Temple of the World. Moabite, is the ancient name for Moroccans. Noble Drew Ali and his followers moved to Chicago in 1925 and established the Moorish Science Temple of America. By this time, Drew Ali had established temples in Charleston, WVA; Milwaukee, WI; Lansing and Detroit, MI; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Pine Bluff, AR; Newark, NJ; Cleveland and Youngstown, OH; Richmond and Petersburg, VA. Noble Drew Ali was, murdered in 1929 in Chicago, IL and buried in Burr Oak Cemetery.
In 1915, Albanian Muslims in Biddeford, Maine established the first effective Mosque in North America. Most were bachelors working at the Peppermell Mills. Muslim Albanian families still reside in Biddeford and nearby Saco.
In 1919, The Albanians established another Mosque in Connecticut.
In 1919, an Islamic association established in Highland Park, Michigan the organization dismantled after 5 years.
In 1920, the first Ahmadiyya Muslim missionary to arrive in America was Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, who arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday, February 15, 1920, on board the Haverford. For religious reasons he was detained on Ellis Island, New York on February 25, 1920. On May 20, 1920, he was, released by the order of the Secretary of the State. Dr. Sadiq stayed in New York for some time and continued to preach Islam. Later, he moved to Chicago and in 1921 established the first headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, at 4448 Wabash Avenue, giving it the name “Al Masjid.”
In 1920, The Red Crescent, a Muslim charity modeled after the International Red Cross was, established in Detroit.
In 1922, an Islamic association was, established in Detroit, Michigan.
By 1923, Hassen Mohamed became a successful businessman in Downtown Belzoni, Mississippi. He had a general merchandise store. Hassen settled in the Belzoni area in 1911 he came from the Lebanese Shiite village of Sir’een. Hassen was married to Ethel Wright together they had eight children one of their sons Ollie Mohamed became a State Senator. Hassen Mohamed passed away in 1965.
In 1925, a Muslim group in Michigan City, Indiana purchased land designated as their cemetery. In the thirties, these Muslims added a Mosque/Community Center. The building is still in use.
In 1926, Duse Muhammad Ali (1866-1945), mentor of Marcus Garvey, helped establish an organization in Detroit known as the “Universal Islamic Society.” Its motto was “One God, One Aim, One Destiny.” He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, the son of a Sudanese mother and an Egyptian army officer. He was, brought to London at a young age by one of his fathers, friends. He was known to be a frequently in the company of Muhammad Pickthall, the English Muslim scholar who translated the Holy Qur’an into English. Duse Ali had considerable influence upon Garvey’s when they work together in London when Duse Ali was the Editor African Times and Orient Review.
In 1926, Polish, speaking Tartars opened a Mosque in Brooklyn, NY. In the 1900s, Polish Muslims came to Brooklyn, NY. In 1931, they purchase a New England church-style-meeting hall and an adjacent three-story residential building, which is still in use today. The community was made, up of Asian Tartars whose nomadic ancestors helped Vitautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, in his victory against the Teutonic Order in 1410. They settled in Lithuania and Poland with the status of nobility, while remaining Muslim. They were, nearly annihilated during World War II.
In 1928, The Islamic Propagation Center of America opened up on State Street in Brooklyn, New York, under the leadership of Shaikh Al-Haj Daoud Ahmed Faisal. He also started the Islamic Mission Society, which was active from 1934-1942. Shaikh Faisal was, granted a charter by Shaikh Khalid of Jordan and King Saud of Saudi Arabia to propagate Islam in America.
In 1928, the early beginnings of the first Mosque of Pittsburgh were rooted in Noble Drew Ali’s teaching. Several years after its foundation, the main teacher of the community, Walter Smith Bey, invited Dr. Yusef Khan an Ahmadi to speak and teach the community. During this time of growth and development by 1935, there emerged a new conflict pertaining to Dr. Khan’s teachings. Most of the community members concluded against Dr. Khan and the community divided for a second time. Today the community follows the Sunnah of the Prophet.
In 1929, Muslim farmers built one of America’s first Mosques (Masjid) in Ross, North Dakota. The homesteader Hassen Juma had settled there with 160 free acres in 1899. By 1902, twenty families had followed his path from Birey, Syria. The U.S. objected to their naturalization until 1909 when it withdrew the ban and the Syrians began claiming citizenship. Many fought and died in the two world wars. In 1929, the community built a Mosque and performed Jumah (Friday) prayer service. The farmhouse/mosque was, destroyed in 1978. The cemetery on its grounds remains and there is an arched gate with a crescent and star on it.
In 1929, in Detroit “The Lost-Found Nation of Islam in the Wilderness of North America,” was, founded by W.D.Fard. Fard Muhammad was known as (Wali D. Fard, Wallace Fard, and W.F. Muhammad) mystery surrounds his origins some identify him as half-Syrian, half-Jamaican some say half-Persian, half-Turkish, and the FBI says he was half-Polynesian, half-Scottish. Fard claimed he was half-European, half-Meccan genealogy. On July the Fourth, he announced the beginning of His mission, which was to restore and to resurrect his lost and found people, who were, identified as the original nation of Muslims of Asiatic-African descent from the tribe of Shabazz, who was, captured, exploited, and dehumanized and enslaved. In 1931, Fard was preaching in Detroit, Michigan where after hearing his first lecture Elijah Poole was overwhelmed by the message and immediately accepted it. The founder of the Nation of Islam gave him the name “Karriem” and made him a minister. Later he was, promoted to the position of “Supreme Minister” and his name was, changed to Muhammad.
In 1934, the Frist Mosque of Cleveland was, developed by a major community of Ahmadis headed by Wali Akram from 1934-1937. By the 1940s, there were two hundred people in the Masjid. As the twentieth century progressed, the direct personal influence of the Ahmadi missionaries declined. Many of the early members left the movement for a variety of reasons.
In the 1930’s, three other Mosques (Masjids) were started in Dearborn, MI., Sacramento, CA., and Michigan City, MI.
In the late 1930s, “The Addeynu Allah Universal Arab Association” a Sunni community was, established in Newark, NJ under the leadership of Professor Ezeldeen who was second in command in Noble Drew Ali’s movement and was, known as Brother Lomax Bey. He was one of the first African-American to master the Arabic language and to go aboard to study Islam in Egypt. When Professor Ezeldeen returned to the States, he rejected the teachings of the Moorish Science Temple and developed orthodox Islamic communities in several cities throughout the United States. A community was, developed in upper State New York and in the southern part of New Jersey outside of Camden in a community called Ezaldeen Village. Professor Ezeldeen was responsible for establishing the first National Islamic Organization among the Sunni Muslims called “United Islamic Communities”, which included Sheikh Dawud, members of the First Mosque of Cleveland and Pittsburgh along with others.
In 1939, the Islamic Mission Society was, founded in New York by Sheikh Dawud.
In 1940, the first official Nation of Islam Temple #4 in Washington, DC was setup by Elijah Muhammad. Three other cities had Temples in Detroit, MN #1, Chicago, IL #2, and Milwaukee, WN #3.
In 1941, The FBI begins its’ program of harassment at the members of the Nation of Islam.
In 1942, John Ben Ali Haggin was, known as Captain Johnny Haggin who became famous for his valor as the pilot of the famous submarine sinking flight, off the coast of New Jersey. John Ben Ali Haggin was born of Irish-Arabian descent on August 19, 1916, in New York City
In 1942, The Nation of Islam begins preaching in the US prison systems in Petersburg, VA. Some of the members were William X Fagin, Harry X Craighhead, and Benjamin X Mitchell. In Benjamin’s book, he states that “Inmates began to ask us questions about our religion. The three of us began to explain to the inmates the teachings of Islam.”
In 1945 the First Mosque of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was, established by African-American Muslims who wished to spread the teaching of Islam.
In 1946, The Nation of Islam bought their first Temple called Temple #2 in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1946, the first Young Muslim Women’s Association was, chartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They had a sub-charter in Missouri that provided services such as aid for dependent children, widows, and the elderly.
1947-60, A third wave of Muslim immigrants, coming from Palestine, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Egypt.
In 1949, the Albanian-American Muslim Center of Detroit was, founded by Imam Vehbi Ismail 1919-2008. Imam Vehbi was born in Shkoder, Albania in 1919. In 1962 he published the the book “Muhammad, The Last Prophet.” Imam Ismail is the author of 35 books, which were translating into 25 different languages. Imam Vehbi passed away at the age of 79 in Harper Wood, Michigan.
By the late 1940s, a few jazz musicians became Muslims. Art Blakey, Talib Dawoud, Mohammed Sadiq, Sahib Shihab, Ahmad Jamal, Dakota Staton, Yusef Lateef, Idrees Sulieman, and McCoy (Sulieman Saud) Tyner to a name a few.
In 1950, the first mosque in the nation’s capital was, established as the “American Fazl Mosque“ at 2141 Leroy Place, Washington, DC. It served as the Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from 1950-1994.
In 1952, Muslim service men sue the federal government they were, allowed to identify themselves as Muslims.
In 1954, The Federation of Islamic Associations (FIA) of the US and Canada was established.
In 1955, the State Street Masjid, in Brooklyn, New York was, established by Sheikh Dawud Ahmed Faisal. It is still in use today. From this Masjid came the Dar-ul-Islam movement in 1962.
In 1955, a Mosque was established by, Yugoslavians in Chicago. These Muslims arrived in the early 1900s, and have evolved into an organized ethnic group, with several institutions including the Bosnian-American Cultural Association.
In 1956,Malcolm el Hajj Malik el Shabazz(Malcolm X) (1925-1965), becomes an active preacher for the Nation of Islam. While in prison, he was introduced to Elijah Muhammad teaching. In the early 1950s,Malcolm converted and took his X. He started working with the Nation of Islam in 1952, when he was, released from jail. He eventually rose to a position of leadership and was assigned to New York City Temple #7. In the late 1970s, Temple #7 was renamed Masjid Malcolm Shabazz in honored of him.
In 1957, The Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. opens. The Islamic Center of Washington, DC was open on June 28th 1957. The center was, built as a traditional Islamic architect structure. President Dwight Eisenhower gave the opening remarks at the opening of the Islamic Center. In his statement he says, “Under the American Constitution this Center, this place of worship is as welcome as could be any similar edifice of any religion. Americans would fight with all their strength for your right to have your own church and worship according to your own conscience.”
In 1958, Hamaas Khaalis (Ernest McGee) 1921-2003 was born in Indiana. He split from the Nation of Islam to form an orthodox Islamic organization. Khaalis worked as a jazz drummer in New York City before coverting to Islam. While in the Nation of Islam, he became the national secretary in the early 1950s.
In 1960,Masjid Muhammad of Washington, DC was, built as the first Mosque under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad. During its” first ten years, the building was used as a Temple. For more than twenty years since 1975, Masjid Muhammad has functioned as a Masjid under the Sunnah or orthodox way of Al-Islam. The community has a rich history that expands more than seventy-five years since the mid-1930s they were, known as Temple #4 in its early beginnings.
In 1961, Najeeb Halaby was, appointed the head of the Federal Administration by President John F. Kennedy.
In 1962, the first Muslim American Newspaper “Muhammad Speaks” was, launched. It later became the largest minority weekly publication in the country and reached more than 800,000 readers at its peak. It has undergone various name changes’ Bilalian News, The A.M. Journal, to its current name Muslim Journal.
In 1962, the Dar al Islam movement begins in Brooklyn, NY. It was, first centered on black separatism but later turned strictly to Sunni practices. Imam Yahya Abdul-Karim was, elected the Imam in the late 1960’s the community met on Rockway Avenue and established a place of worship at 240 Sumpter Street. In the early 1970’s the Yasin Mosque was, established at 52 Herkimer Place in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area, then they moved to East New York section of Brooklyn on Van Siclen Avenue. The Dar 1962-1983 was a grass root movement developed by African American Muslims with the purpose to empower indigenous American Muslims.
The Dar grew to 40 branches across the United States, Alaska, Canada, and Trinidad. They had a business organization called Dar-ul-Miska, which sought to give economic support to the Dar and self-sufficiency for it members. They manufactured incense, were wholesalers of oils, they had the first Halal Meat Store operated by indigenous Muslims at 143 Court Street in Brooklyn. They also promoted individual entrepreneurship among its members they owned a security company, photographic studio, day-care, and a newspaper-candy store.
In 1963, The Muslim Student Association (MSA) was, founded. It is an organization to aid foreign Muslim students attending schools in the United States. MSA now has more than 100 branches nationwide.
In 1965, internationally known Muslim leader El Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X) was, assassinated in New York.
In 1965, Muhammad Ali the three time, world boxing Champ makes the name Muhammad Ali and the Islamic faith a household name in America.
In 1968, The Hanafi Movement was founded by, Hamas Abdul-Khaalis. The Hanafi Madhab Center was, established in New York but later moved to Washington, DC. In 1972, he published an open letter attacking Elijah Muhammad and his leadership. At its peak, the community had a membership of more than 1,000 in the United States.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the famous basket player help bring attention to the community.
In 1968, The Islamic Circle ofFrom 1960’s-1980, a fifth wave of Muslim students and immigrants came from all over the Muslim World.
North America was established.
From 1970-1973, Dr. Fazlur Rahman Khan, a Muslim from Bangladesh, designed the Chicago’s John Hancock Center in (1970), the One Shell Plaza in Houston (1971), and the Sears Towers in Chicago in (1973).
In 1971 the Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship was founded by Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, a Sufi mystic whose teachings attracted many Muslim and non-Muslim devotees in the U.S. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen author more than 20 books, he passed away December 8th, 1986.
In December 1971 theIslamic Party was founded by, Yusuf Muzaffaruddin Hamid in Washington, DC. In the early 1960’s brother Yusuf traveled to New York as an aspiring jazz musician were at the age of 17 he embraced Isalm. From 1965-1969, Yusuf traveled throughout the Muslim world in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He studied for a time at Hijaz University in Saudia Arabia. In 1969, Yusuf returned, to the United States and took a job at the gift shop at the Islamic Center of Washington, later that year a building was, donated by Howard University to be, used as a Masjid. It was, called Masjidul Ummah. In 1972 a bi-monthly paper called “Al-Islam,” was distributed.
In 1973, the Nation Development Bank was started several other businesses were established by members of the Islamic Party they had a bookstore, a tea and reading lounge, a 24-hour restaurant, a bakery inside the Masjid, and a cab business.
In the early 1970’s the Islamic Party saw a rapid growth in DC, and in others cities in New Jersey, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. They purchased a building on Park Ave NW Washington, DC for their headquarters. In 1976, a decision was, made to shift the headquarters of the Islamic Party to Atlanta, Georgia where some houses and an apartment complex was, purchased. Around 1977 members of the Islamic Party met with organized Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago and presented the Islamic Party’s program of da’wah and intense training to present Islam to the people of the Caribbean.
In 1978, the ‘Islamic Party’ changed its name to the ‘Islamic Peoples Movement’ they worked in St. Croix, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad, and Tobago by 1984 most of the members moved back to the United States. In the United States land was purchased in the town of Tate, Georgia. In 1990 Abdul Haqq and Imam Muzaffaruddin visited Honduras and established a clothing factory and on September 1991 Imam Muzaffaruddin passed away from Leukemia.
In 1972, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad opened a $2 million Mosque and school in Chicago.
In 1973 five members of the Nation of Islam from Philadelphia, murdered members of his family and community. In 1977 Khaalis and ten members of his community took over the B’nai Birth center, the Islamic Center of Washington, and the District Building. In 1973, a unique event took place. A descendant of the Beall’s Family sold some property to Masjid Muhammad, then known as Muhammad’s Holy Temple of Islam # 4. The Beall’s is the same family that had own and freed Yarrow Marmood in the 1800s.
In 1975, Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, dies February 25th.
In 1975, Warith Deen Mohammed becomes the leader of the Nation of Islam. He moved the Nation of Islam from nationalism into the Sunnah path of Islam. Under his leadership, the community made many positive transitions and name changes in 1976 The World Community of Islam in the West, to the American Muslim Mission, Ministry of W.D. Mohammed, and the Muslim American Society.
In 1978, Warith Deen Muhammadwas, named as consultant/trustee by the Gulf States to distribute funds for Islamic missionary activities in the U.S.
In 1981,Honorable Judge Adam A. Shakoor became the first Muslim Judge appointed in 1981, he is a retired Judge of the 36th District Court and founding partner of Adam Shakoor & Associates. Judge Shakoor also served as Deputy Mayor of the city of Detroit and as Chief Administrative Officer for the city from 1989 to 1993. Judge Shakoor received his J.D from the WSU Law School in 1976.
In 1982,The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) was established in Plainfield, IN. ISNA is now an umbrella organization for many active Islamic groups seeking to further the cause of Al-Islam in the United States.
In 1985, Warith D. Muhammad decentralizes the old N.O.I community structure.
In the 1990s, A Somalian born Muslim working as an employee for the US Post Office invented the new self-adhesive stamp.
In the 1990s, a National Shura developed in North America, which comprises Imam W.D. Mohammed, Dr. Abdullah Idris Ali, President of ISNA, Imam Jamil Al-Amin, and Dr. Abdul Malik Mujahid, the Amir of ICNA.
In 1990 The American Muslim Council, a political lobbying group was, created to empower and represent Muslim Americans in U.S. public policy. In 1974, The Muslim World League was, granted non-governmental organizational status at the United Nations.
In 1996, The American Muslim Council sponsored the first Iftar Dinner Celebration on Capitol Hill
In 1996, The White House and the first lady, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, recognized the completion of Ramadan by hosting a group of Muslim families at a White House reception for Id al-Fitr.
In 1996,Monje Malak Abd Al-Muta Ali ibn Noel, Jr. became the First Muslim Naval Chaplin (Imam) in the U.S. Navy. Noel, 33, of Salem, New Jersey, rejoined the military in 1994 and has been serving as an Islamic leader on several Navy commands while he performed as a chaplain candidate. He served on the USS Midway and USS Saratoga, among other commands.
In 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland, the first Muslim women Master of Chancery was appointed in1997, Zakia Mahasa, an African American Muslim woman.
In 1998 the Pentagon hosted its’ first Ramadan Iftar meal for all Muslims on active duty in the armed forces and employees of the Department of Defense.
In 1999, The New York City Police Department appoints the first Muslim Chaplain, Imam Izak-El M. Pasha.
In 1999,Ahmad H Zewali was awarded the Noble Prize in Chemistry. His groundbreaking laser technique has allowed scientists to observe the behavior of the atoms and molecules in chemical reactions.
In 1999, the U.S. Post-office published astamp to honor the Muslim leader Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X). There are two other postage stamps honoring achievements of Muslims the revolutionary heroes Peter (Salem) Saleem, and Saleem (Salem) Poor. Malcolm is the first well-known Muslim to be, placed on the stamp.
In 1999, The U.S. State Department hosted its first Iftar for Muslim Americans at the State Department.
In August 1999, the first Muslim US Ambassador, Osman Siddique was, sworn in as the Ambassador to the Fiji Islands.
In 1999 Mayor Hakim Mansour Ellis was elected as Mayor of Macon, Georgia from 1999-2007
In 1999, Imam W. Deen Mohammed met with Pope John Paul 2nd in the Vatican with Cardinal William Keeler.
The first Muslim judge in the country was Judge Adam Shakoor appointed in 1981 (retired) of Detroit, Judge David Shaheed appointed in 1999 of Indianapolis became the second Muslim male Judge follow by Judge Hassan El-Amin appointed in July 2000 in Prince George, Maryland District Court.
