W. D. Fard: The Man, Myth, and Mystery Behind the Nation of Islam - Hardcover

by John Andrew Morrow (Author), Bilal Muhammad (Author)

W. D. Fard: The Man, Myth, and Mystery Behind the Nation of Islam offers a bold, multidisciplinary investigation into the elusive founder of the Nation of Islam. W. D. Fard, known to his followers as Master Fard Muhammad, was the man of mystery whose teachings inspired Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Elijah Muhammad, Louis Farrakhan, and many figures involved in the separatist wing of the American civil rights movement. Fard disappeared without a trace in 1934, eluding adherents and scholars alike. Historians have debated his intentions: was he a missionary, a conman, or an agent? Why did this non-black teacher found a black nationalist movement? Drawing on theology, psychology, sociology, and archival research, John Morrow and Bilal Muhammad uncover Fard's scriptural sources, apocalyptic influences, and esoteric affiliations. The book delves into Fard's incarceration, love life, ties to Imperial Japan, and the conceptual origins of his teachings. The authors use cutting-edge tools, including AI, emotional recognition software, DNA testing, forensic linguistics, digitized newspapers, and anagram breakers to reveal the man behind the legend. This study pushes the boundaries of what is known about this controversial and momentous figure.

Author Biography

Bilal Muhammad is a vice principal, author, translator, and playwright based in Toronto, Canada. He is a Senior Fellow at the Berkeley Institute for Islamic Studies. He studied Political Science and the History of Religions at the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa and obtained his B.Ed. at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. He worked as a translator for the University of Toronto's Department of Historical Studies and translated the Amali of Shaykh al-Saduq. He is the author of numerous books.