Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity
A comparison between the function of Islam in the lives of Al-Hajj Umar Taal and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) suggests that Shabazz’s example of translating his Islamic obligations into the secular philosophy of Pan-Africanism reflects more promise toward the interest of interreligious Pan-A...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Jimmy Earl Butts |
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| author_sort | Jimmy Earl Butts |
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| description | A comparison between the function of Islam in the lives of Al-Hajj Umar Taal and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) suggests that Shabazz’s example of translating his Islamic obligations into the secular philosophy of Pan-Africanism reflects more promise toward the interest of interreligious Pan-African unity. During the nineteenth century, figures like Edward Blyden and Duse Muhammad Ali both presented the compatibility of Islam with Pan-Africanism. However, the practical examples of the steps needed to obtain interreligious unity require continued exploration. The author begins with an examination of the question of jihad and the “religious other” in Islam as understood by some. Secondly, the author focuses on Umar Taal to explore the way his understanding of Islam affected his relationship with both Muslim and non-Muslim Africans he encountered in nineteenth-century West Africa. Subsequently, the author analyzes how Malik El-Shabazz understood Islam to relate to the quest for Pan-Africanism. Using concepts from the critical theory of religion, the author will argue that Shabazz’s determinate negation of elements of his religious commitments that might hinder unity among people of African descent is instructive for the construction of an interreligious Pan-African unity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1febb187a1e6497d82de5ed9a10a976d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-1febb187a1e6497d82de5ed9a10a976d2025-08-20T02:33:48ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-04-0116554210.3390/rel16050542Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African UnityJimmy Earl Butts0Department of History, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USAA comparison between the function of Islam in the lives of Al-Hajj Umar Taal and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) suggests that Shabazz’s example of translating his Islamic obligations into the secular philosophy of Pan-Africanism reflects more promise toward the interest of interreligious Pan-African unity. During the nineteenth century, figures like Edward Blyden and Duse Muhammad Ali both presented the compatibility of Islam with Pan-Africanism. However, the practical examples of the steps needed to obtain interreligious unity require continued exploration. The author begins with an examination of the question of jihad and the “religious other” in Islam as understood by some. Secondly, the author focuses on Umar Taal to explore the way his understanding of Islam affected his relationship with both Muslim and non-Muslim Africans he encountered in nineteenth-century West Africa. Subsequently, the author analyzes how Malik El-Shabazz understood Islam to relate to the quest for Pan-Africanism. Using concepts from the critical theory of religion, the author will argue that Shabazz’s determinate negation of elements of his religious commitments that might hinder unity among people of African descent is instructive for the construction of an interreligious Pan-African unity.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/542Pan-AfricanismAfricana IslamMalcolm XUmar Taaljihadreligious tolerance |
| spellingShingle | Jimmy Earl Butts Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity Religions Pan-Africanism Africana Islam Malcolm X Umar Taal jihad religious tolerance |
| title | Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity |
| title_full | Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity |
| title_fullStr | Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity |
| title_short | Al-Hajj Umar Taal or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)? Case Studies on Islam and Interreligious Pan-African Unity |
| title_sort | al hajj umar taal or el hajj malik el shabazz malcolm x case studies on islam and interreligious pan african unity |
| topic | Pan-Africanism Africana Islam Malcolm X Umar Taal jihad religious tolerance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/542 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jimmyearlbutts alhajjumartaalorelhajjmalikelshabazzmalcolmxcasestudiesonislamandinterreligiouspanafricanunity |