Editing Nation of Islam (section)

=== Lifestyle ===

The Nation requests that, as a declaration of mental emancipation, new members change any names inherited from slave-owners who owned their ancestors.{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=54|2a1=Barnett|2y=2006|2p=886}} This is not considered necessary if the new member has a name that is already African in origin.{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=886}} In the NOI's early years, Wallace Fard Muhammad bestowed new names on followers for a $10 fee.{{sfn|Gibson|2012|p=18}} During the mid-20th century the Nation began encouraging the use of "X" as a surname, symbolising what they regarded as the African-American's identity as an "ex-slave" and also as a marker for their lost ancestral name.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=64}} As this results in many individuals having the same name, numbers are added before the X to differentiate members (i.e. "Charles 2X", "Charles 3X").{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=64}}

[[File:Bean pie recipe.jpg|thumb|left|Bean pies are associated with the Nation and Elijah Muhammad encouraged their consumption.{{sfn|Potorti|2017|pp=79, 80}}]]

The NOI encourages its followers to live highly disciplined and structured lifestyles;{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=883}} this conservative and ascetic approach has led to followers being called "Black Puritans".{{sfn|Tinaz|1996|p=197}} Nation members are encouraged to obey the law,{{sfnm|1a1=Colley|1y=2014|1p=405|2a1=Curtis IV|2y=2016|2p=17}} to seek gainful employment,{{sfnm|1a1=Lincoln|1y=1961|1p=17|2a1=Curtis IV|2y=2016|2p=18}} to always be punctual,{{sfn|Curtis IV|2016|p=18}} to avoid buying on credit,{{sfn|Lincoln|1961|p=17}} and to never gamble.{{sfnm|1a1=Lincoln|1y=1961|1p=17|2a1=Gardell|2y=1996|2p=61}} 

Male members typically cut their hair short, sometimes shaving the head entirely, and do not usually wear beards.{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=888}} This signifies their willingness to abide to the Nation's strict rules and reflect their renunciation of much personal choice.{{sfn|Barnett|2006|pp=888–889}} They are expected to wear suits with either ties or bowties;{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=61|2a1=Barnett|2y=2006|2p=889|3a1=Finley|3y=2022|3p=55}} those who are part of the Fruit of Islam wear military-style uniforms,{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=889}} sometimes accompanied by a [[Fez (hat)|fez]].{{sfn|Finley|2022|p=64}} Women are commanded to dress modestly;{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=61|2a1=Finley|2y=2022|2p=54}} they are not permitted to wear trousers,{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=889}} are expected to wear long sleeves,{{sfn|Finley|2022|p=54}} and are encouraged to cover their heads.{{sfnm|1a1=Barnett|1y=2006|1p=889|2a1=Finley|2y=2022|2p=54}} Cosmetics and the chemical or heat-based straightening of hair is also discouraged.{{sfn|Finley|2022|p=54}}

The NOI teaches that practitioners should keep fit and maintain a healthy diet,{{sfnm|1a1=Barnett|1y=2006|1p=877|2a1=McCutcheon|2y=2013b|2p=574}} as part of which it espouses strict dietary rules.{{sfn|Potorti|2017|p=70}} [[Vegetarianism]] is encouraged among members, although not obligatory,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=62}} with Elijah Muhammad writing that "meat was never intended for man to eat".{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=62}} In ''[[How to Eat to Live]]'', Elijah Muhammad urged his followers to subsist primarily on fruit, vegetables, and certain grains, and to choose lamb if they must eat meat.{{sfn|McCutcheon|2013|p=65}} Discouraged foods include dried fruits,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=62}} white flour,{{sfnm|1a1=Curtis IV|1y=2016|1p=18|2a1=Potorti|2y=2017|2p=83}} additives,{{sfn|Curtis IV|2016|p=18}} and [[fast food]].{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=62}} Although its own produce is not wholly [[Organic product|organic]], the Nation is supportive of organic food and the avoidance of [[genetically modified crops]], [[insecticide]]s, and pesticides.{{sfn|McCutcheon|2013b|p=575}}

The NOI also encourages followers to avoid foods associated with the slave culture of the U.S., such as [[cornbread]], [[catfish]], and [[collard greens]], deeming this cuisine to be undignified.{{sfnm|1a1=Curtis IV|1y=2016|1p=18|2a1=Potorti|2y=2017|2pp=75, 85|3a1=Finley|3y=2022|3p=51}} Concerned about obesity and diabetes among African Americans, Elijah Muhammad urged his followers to restrict their caloric intake, ideally by eating only one meal a day.{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=62|2a1=Curtis IV|2y=2016|2p=18}} He claimed that this would extend the human lifespan and that those who ate only once every 24 hours would live for 150 years and that those who ate once every seven days would live for 1,050 years.{{sfn|Curtis IV|2016|p=18}} Members are also encouraged to conduct regular three-day fasts,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=62}} and to fast during the daylight for the entirety of December.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=62}} The NOI also [[Teetotalism|prohibits the use of alcohol]],{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=61|2a1=McCutcheon|2y=2013b|2p=575|3a1=Colley|3y=2014|3p=400|4a1=Curtis IV|4y=2016|4p=18}} tobacco,{{sfnm|1a1=Lincoln|1y=1961|1p=17|2a1=Gardell|2y=1996|2p=61|3a1=McCutcheon|3y=2013b|3p=575|4a1=Colley|4y=2014|4p=400|5a1=Curtis IV|5y=2016|5p=18}} and other recreational drugs,{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=61|2a1=Barnett|2y=2006|2p=883|3a1=Colley|3y=2014|3p=400}} and has recommended the [[Vaccine hesitancy|avoidance of vaccines]] for children.{{sfn|Knight|2000|p=153}}