Masjid Malcolm Shabazz

               A HISTORY OF MASJID MALCOLM SHABAZZ

Founded by Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1956, by Nation of Islam Minister El Hajj Malik Shabazz known then as Malcolm X, Masjid Malcolm Shabazz located at 102 West 116th Street in Harlem began as Muhammad’s Temple of Islam #7.
As such it was the successors in interest to Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (which still occupied the 3rd floor of the building in 1956) and Noble Drew Ali’s Science Temple Movement which also sought to address African American identity deficits with pan-Africanism and an affirmation of an pre slavery Islamic past while at the same time fostering a culture of community self determinism and economic collectionism (or self help).

For 19 years, (1956 – 1975) these concepts were the hallmark of Muhammad Temple of Islam #7 under the leadership of Minister Malcolm X (Malcolm Shabazz – 1956 – 1965) and Minister Louis Farrakhan (1965-1975) who were national spokesmen for the Hon. Elijah Muhammad leader Nation of Islam (1933 – 1975)During these 19 years satellite temples from 7B to 7P from Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, EI Barrio (East Harlem) to Westchester were established and tens of thousands of African Americans and Latinos were invited to revert to Islam as taught by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.

Heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali, Singer Joe Tex, The Delphonics and many other celebrities added to the constellation of star power that encouraged thousands of people to join the Nation of Islam.

On February 21, 1965, Muhammad Temple of Islam was fire bombed by those who believed that “The Nation of Islam” were responsible for the assassination of Malcolm X.

The top floor of the building was lost all except ironically Minister Malcolm’s original office which is still in tact until to day.