Editing Nation of Islam (section)

=== Theology ===

{{Quote box
| quote = God is a man and we just cannot make Him other than a man, lest we make Him an inferior one; for man's intelligence has no equal in other than man. His wisdom is infinite; capable of accomplishing anything that His brain can conceive.
| source=Elijah Muhammad, ''Message to the Black Man'', 1965{{sfn|Barnett|2006|pp=877–878}}
| width = 25em
| align = right
}}

The [[Sociology of religion|sociologist of religion]] [[David V. Barrett]] noted that the Nation's [[theology]] is "very distinct" and "extremely detailed".{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=252}} The Nation provides conflicting statements about its theology; although it professes commitment to the [[Monotheism|monotheistic]] idea of a single God, its discourse refers to multiple gods,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|pp=170–171}} meaning that it can be interpreted as [[Polytheism|polytheistic]].{{sfn|Fishman|Soage|2013|p=62}}

In the NOI's view, each [[Allah]] (God) is not an incorporeal spiritual entity but a flesh-and-blood person.{{sfn|Finley|2022|p=41}} These Allahs are anthropomorphic,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=171}} taking the form of black men,{{sfnm|1a1=Barnett|1y=2006|1p=876|2a1=Soumahoro|2y=2007|2p=40}} which was the shape that the first Allah consciously adopted.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=144}} In Nation teaching, the Allahs are not immortal,{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1pp=145, 171|2a1=Tsoukalas|2y=2004|2p=455|3a1=Fishman|3a2=Soage|3y=2013|3p=62}} instead typically living for around 200 to 300 years.{{sfn|Finley|2022|p=24}} They have varying abilities and degrees of power,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=171}} with each taking over following the death of their predecessor,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=173}} after which they rule for a cycle in history.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=145}} The Nation regards its founder, Fard Muhammad, as the latest of these Allahs,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=146}} or "God in person".{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=171|2a1=Finley|2y=2022|2p=41}} He is deemed the first to have attained the same powers as that of the earliest Allah, namely the ability to return the universe to its primordial darkness and then recreate it.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=146}} The Nation teaches that although this founder disappeared in 1934, he had secretly moved to [[Mecca]] and would live for another 409 years.{{sfn|Fishman|Soage|2013|p=62}}

Reflecting a belief in the inner divinity of humanity that is common among black-oriented new religions,{{sfn|Palmer|2010|p=32}} the Nation also promotes the idea that "God is man and man is God, that God has a presence inside human individuals."{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=876}} Accordingly, the NOI teaches that the black race, in its natural state, is divine,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=134}} a "nation of Gods",{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=171}} with Elijah Muhammad espousing the view that  "all Muslims are Allahs".{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=172}} According to the NOI, "knowledge of self" is key for black people to realize their inner divinity.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=174}} The NOI thus maintains that by following its teachings, its adherents can recognize their inner godliness.{{sfn|Barnett|2006|p=877}} Elijah Muhammad for instance stated that humans could develop parapsychological powers and that he personally had [[Telepathy|telepathic]] abilities.{{sfn|Curtis IV|2016|p=23}}

The Nation of Islam's theology is "completely divorced" from mainstream Islam.{{sfn|Fishman|Soage|2013|p=64}} The two differ in regard to the fundamental ontological divide between humanity and God,{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=134}} as well as God's nature, which for mainstream Muslims is deemed eternal and non-anthropomorphic.{{sfn|Gardell|1996|p=171}} Also conflicting with mainstream Islam is the NOI's claim that there is no afterlife;{{sfnm|1a1=Keener|1a2=Usry|1y=2005|1p=175|2a1=Fishman|2a2=Soage|2y=2013|2p=64|3a1=Curtis IV|3y=2016|3p=17}} Elijah Muhammad wrote that "when you are dead, you are DEAD".{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=1996|1p=233|2a1=Keener|2a2=Usry|2y=2005|2p=175}} Notions of [[Heaven]], the Nation claims, are a lie used by white Christians to keep black people docile.{{sfn|Finley|2022|pp=40-41}} Instead Elijah Muhammad taught that there is no spiritual realm beyond the material universe.{{sfnm|1a1=Allen|1y=1996|1p=9|2a1=Curtis IV|2y=2016|2p=13}}