An organization advocating for the upliftment of African Americans through a blend of Islamic, Christian, and Moorish beliefs.
Religion: Islam
Founder: Noble Drew Ali (Timothy Drew)
Founded: 1913
Location: United States (originally Newark, New Jersey)
Other Names: Moorish Temple of Science, Moorish Holy Temple of Science
The Moorish Science Temple of America is a religious and cultural movement founded in Newark, New Jersey, in 1913 by Noble Drew Ali. Born Timothy Drew, he taught that African Americans are descendants of the Moabites, making them “Moorish” by nationality and Islamic by faith. Drew Ali developed a unique blend of Islamic, Christian, and other religious beliefs, along with a strong emphasis on racial pride and self-identity, to uplift African Americans facing the harsh realities of racial segregation and disenfranchisement.
Drew Ali claimed that all blacks were of Moorish origins and advocated for the return to Islam, their ancestral heritage, to reclaim their rightful spiritual and national identity. He introduced the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple of America (distinct from the Qur’an of orthodox Islam) as their sacred text, which includes narratives from the Fall of Man to the Resurrection of Jesus, moral instructions, and prophecies about the uplift of humanity.
The movement grew rapidly in the early 20th century, especially in urban centers like Chicago, where Drew Ali relocated in the mid-1920s. By the late 1920s, it was estimated to have tens of thousands of members and several temples across the Midwest and upper South. The Moorish Science Temple of America was notable for its business initiatives, community organization, and efforts to promote a positive and dignified image of African Americans.
After Drew Ali’s death in 1929 under mysterious circumstances, the movement experienced internal splits and several leaders claimed succession. However, the Moorish Science Temple of America has continued to exist in various forms, influencing the development of other religious and cultural movements, including the Nation of Islam.
In recent years, the movement has seen a resurgence, albeit with challenges. Some self-proclaimed Moors have been involved in legal controversies related to sovereign citizen claims, complicating the public perception of the movement. Nonetheless, its members, ranging from professionals to former military personnel, continue to seek spiritual fulfillment and a sense of historical identity through its teachings.
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