1897 – 1975

Elijah Muhammad

American religious leader (1897-1975)

Muslim ministerreligious leaderpolitician

Born

1897-10-07, Sandersville

Died

1975-02-25

Birthplace state

Georgia

Biography

Elijah Muhammad was an American religious leader who led the Nation of Islam from 1933 until his death in 1975. Under his leadership, the Nation of Islam grew from a small Detroit-based movement into a nationwide organization with tens of thousands of members in the United States during the civil rights movement. The group promoted black nationalism and a distinctive theology which taught that white people were a race of "devils" created by an evil black scientist named Yakub, and that there were multiple gods, each a black man named Allah. Elijah Muhammad taught that he himself was the messenger of these gods.

Occupation

Elijah Muhammad is recorded as a Muslim minister, a religious leader and a politician, born in Georgia (1897–1975).

Connections to Georgia

Elijah Muhammad was born in Sandersville, Georgia in 1897. Explore other notable figures from Georgia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Georgia›Georgiahistory ›Historic sites in Georgia›

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Elijah Muhammad came from Sandersville. A full Aubrey report on Sandersville pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Georgia

Other historical figures born in Georgia, ranked by historical prominence.

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Ray Charles

American singer, pianist and songwriter (1930–2004)

Margaret Mitchell

American author and journalist (1900–1949)

Hulk Hogan

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Rosalynn Carter

First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981

Brittany Murphy

American actress and singer (1977–2009)

Frequently asked about Elijah Muhammad

Who was Elijah Muhammad?

Elijah Muhammad was American religious leader (1897-1975), born in Georgia (1897 – 1975).

When and where was Elijah Muhammad born?

Elijah Muhammad was born on 1897-10-07 in Sandersville.

When did Elijah Muhammad die?

Elijah died on 1975-02-25.

What was Elijah Muhammad known for?

Elijah Muhammad is recorded as a Muslim minister, a religious leader and a politician.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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