fahimknight
04-09-2009, 03:26 AM
FREEMASONRY AND ISLAM: WHAT DO THEY SHARE? PART 2
By Fahim A. Knight-EL
ISLAM'S KNOWLEDGE IS 360 DEGREES A COMPLETE CIRCLE
Islam claim to represent 360 degrees of knowledge, which is a complete circle and the Masons who reaches the apex of becoming a thirty-third degree only have attained partial knowledge. It is this so-called incompleteness of the acquisition of knowledge, which often draws the un-daunting criticism from Muslims. However, I do not think Masonry was intending for thirty-third degree to freeze or terminate its devotees ability to continue this infinite quest to study, research, analyze and to acquire wisdom, etc. Masonry is both a science and a social science and this journey (or traveling path) could lead you in various directions.
For example, Masonry can led you Madam H.P. Blavatsky who is a master in the field of Theosophy and authored two monumental works, The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Religion and Philosophy and "Isis Unveiled" and you could spend a lifetime deciphering Manley P. Hall's book titled, "Secret Teachings of all Ages". Moreover, and never exhaust the boundless wisdom because the ancients intended for it to be never -ending and to suggest that our Masonic travel ends at the United Supreme Council, 33rd Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites of Freemasonry conferring the honorary 33rd degree in a formalized way, completes our knowledge goal is ludicrous. This false contention is arguably the fuel that breeds so many misconceptions between the two entities.
Elijah Muhammad stated" "Only in higher freemasonry is there a little teachings at the top, mostly of this particular order that mentions the teachings of Almighty God Allah, but ( you have to pay a lot of money to become a 33'rd degree Mason. .. A Mason cannot be a good Mason unless he knows the Holy Qur'an and follow its teachings ... " 30
The secret to Freemasonry, is that there is no secret, and anyone who is willing to take the time to investigate this subject could get a working knowledge of the order from the first degree (Entered Apprentice) to the thirty-third (Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry) and/or the York Rite Side.
ALI IBN TALIB THE FOUNDER OF SHIA ISLAM
Dr. Malachi Z. York formerly known as Imam As Sayyid Issa Al Haddi AI Mahdi who at on time headed the Ansaar Allah Community (aka the Nubian Islamic Hebrews), who perhaps borrowed a sizable amount of his Masonic philosophy from Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. But Dr. York adds some historical rationale to when and how Islam and Freemasonry perhaps got intertwined. Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (PBUH 570-632 AD.), the founder of the Islamic religion and at the death of the prophet, questions of succession arose and a Caliphate system called the "Rightly Guide Ones" was enacted and some of the closes companions to the Prophet Muhammad would be the ones ordained to continue promoting Islam after the prophet's death. This leadership came from four men: Abu Baker (632-634 AD.), Umar Ibn AI-Khattab (634-644 AD.), Abdullah Ibn Uthman (644-656 AD.), and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (656-661 AD.). 31
Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib (the fourth and final successor) rein of leaderships is perhaps the most controversial of all the proceeding Caliphs, he was Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. Some Islamic scholars maintain that Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (PBUH) had chosen Ali as his successor and he should have been ordained as the first Caliph of Islam and the succession of leadership would have been past down through the seed of Ali and his wife Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, which would have secured a bloodline succession. 32
Shia Islam believes that Ali was the first person to convert to Muhammad's new Islamic religion and was so-called hand picked by Muhammad to serve as his only legitimate successor and this belief brings in the question the credibility of the other said three Caliphs that has found legitimacy within Sunni Islamic doctrine.
This belief is being taught within Shia Islam even today in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. etc., this is one of the ideological and theological discrepancies, which separates Shia Islam from the dominant majority Sunni Islam. Sunni Islam is very clear about its criteria, e.g., one must accept the Prophet hood of Muhammad as the last Messenger of Allah, the Holy Qur'an as Allah (God's) revealed word and lastly the Sunnah (the sayings of the prophet Muhammad) which was recorded and complied in book known as Hadiths. 33
However, there has been questions of some Hadiths authenticity and Muslims generally speaking are partial to those Hadiths compiled and translated by scholars Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. If one uses deductive reasoning, it is logical to ascertain that Shia Islam as a minority sect, in its early inception had to survive in covert secrecy due to the opposition held by the dominant Sunni sect.
Freemasonry (Shrine Masonry) may have latched on to this historical conflict between Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. The Shriners use the 644 A.D. as a date of origin for the Order and as a way to romanticize Islamic history and validate mystical rituals with an objective of teaching secular moral canon and at the same time assigning it-self to legitimate Islamic historical events.
Albert Mackey in his monumental work titled, The History of Freemasonry. alludes to the fact that there was a Freemason like sect under the guise of shia Islam adhering to Ali Ibn Ibi Talib in a mystical. like manner he stated: "Externally they practice the duties of Islamism, although they internally renounce them; they believed in the divinity of Ali, in uncreated light as the principles of all created things, and in Sheikh Ras-ed-dia, the Grand Prior of the Order in Syria, and contemporary with the Grand Master Hassan I., as the last representative of Deity on earth. The Rev. Mr. Lyde, who traveled among the remains of the sect in 1852, says that they professed to believe in all the prophets, but had a chief respect for Mohammed and his son-in-law Ali, and speaks of their secret prayers and rites ... " 34
PROPHET MUHAMMAD OF ARABIA
Islam as a religion didn't start to geographically expand itself beyond the Arabian Peninsula until approximately 640 A.D. some eight years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) There is a historical misnomer that Prophet Muhammad was this great conquer, that colonized huge foreign territories by way of the sword. Islam's expansion beyond its boarder must be attributed Ali Ibn Abi Talib two sons, Hasan Ibn Ali and his brother, Husayn Ibn Ali.
Dr. York stated: "The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of Mystic Shrine began exactly one hundred years before the opening of the Seventh Seal in 1970.Shriners falsely claim the Son-in-law and cousin of Noble Prophet Mustafa Muhammad Al-Amin (aka Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, Amiyrul Mu 'Miniyn Ali (Ali Ibn Abi Talib), the commander of the faithful, founded this secret society in 644 A.D.
He goes on to state, "the Shrine Rituals were concocted for the amusement of American Masons. The Shriners bear such titles as High Priest, Rabban, Oriental Guide, Worshipful Master, Warden, and Imperial Deputy. Incorporated within their studies are the basic precepts of AI-Islam. The laws of the Mystic Shrine are not to be broken. They are to be kept secret and never let out or passed on to anyone. A Shriner supposedly is devoted to the cause of justice, truth and mercy. Justice is the sword which is their symbol".
"Truth is AI-Islam and the mercy is shown by the Arabs allowing the Christians to enter into their Holy City, Jerusalem. These teachings were gifts granted by the mercy of the Arabs. The Muslim Sons (Shriners) were allowed to serve as guides-to the Christian pilgrims to the city of Mecca".
"The Christians and the Arabs made a covenant by crossing swords, whereby the Arabs permitted the Christians to enter this city because the Christians believed in the Messiah, Jesus. The sword was there as an emblem of justice and it was used by the original man in the Prophet Mustafa Muhammad Al-Amin 's time (570-632 A.D.). It was placed on the upper part of the flag so that the Devil could be constant~ reminded that if he revealed any secrets, his head would be taken by this sword." 35
Whether one view Dr. York's explanation as being plausible or not, he does make an attempt to introduce some historical events and dates that loosely connects Islam and Freemasonry, which gives it some chronological rationale.
DID FREEMASONRY INSPIRE THE AFROCENTRIC MOVEMENT
In the mid 1990's the Afrocentric Movement in America came under attack mainly by white academia and Zionist Jews, as a result of Black scholars making a serious scholarly and intellectual attempt, to reclaim the contributions Black Africans made to Egypt and to all of humanity.
It was Moleif Kete Asante, a Temple University African American Studies professor who authored the book, "Afrocentricity" that took the brunt of this attack, but other black scholars such as Yosef A. A. Ben-Jochannan, Leonard Jefferies, Asa Hillard, John Henrik Clarke, Amos Wilson, Na'im Akbar, Tony Martin, Frances Cress Welsing, Khallid Abdul Muhammad, etc., were not spared by this counter on-slaught.
Mary Lefkowitz was one of the Zionist scholars who led this counter movement against Afrocentric scholars; she is an Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Wellesley College who authored the book, titled, "Not Out of Africa: How Afrocentrism Became an Excuse to Teach Myth as History".
Lefkowitz accused the African-Centered thinkers of concocting fantasies and myths and claim it to be history, but more interesting she attributes these so-called fictional tales that were being advocated by African-Centered thinkers to be nothing more than glorified Masonic history. Leftkowitz's in a chapter titled, "How Did the Myth of an Egyptian Mystery Come to be Preserved in Freemasonry". 36
She stated,"In reality, the Freemasonic movement in its present form is relatively modern, and has its origin in the seventeenth century A.D. But it is an article of faith in the Freemasons' own histories of their movement that there were freemasons in earliest antiquity. Their rites and mythology preserve the essence of 'Egyptian' mysteries and philosophy prevalent in late antiquity ... A striking quality of Freemasonry is its 'imaginative attachment to the religion and symbolism of the Egyptians". 37
Lefkowitz's contention is of important because as the same way she describes how Freemasonry had so-called attached itself to the origin and the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, Muslims and Islam would argue a similar point of how Freemasonry has connected itself to the religion of Islam in a like manner.
If Freemasonry claims of antiquity is factual (this author believe that it is), then there is no other civilization that could compare to the majesty and valor of Egypt and on the other hand, Islam (interpreted to referring to Mecca and Medina) with all its religious mystique would have been two perfect mythical and historical societies for Freemasonry to affix itself to, but Freemasons would argue that these nations aspired and flourished because of Masonic enlightenment and not the other away around.
MIDDLE EAST FREEMASONRY AND ISLAM
In a book titled," Freemasonry". authored by Muhammad SafWat al- Saqqa Amin and co-authored by Sa'di Abu Habib which was published by the Muslim World League in 1980. These two authors are Muslims and quite naturally they are apologist for Islam, but there was a segment in this book I found intriguing, in subchapter titled, 'A New Lodge: Christian-Muslim Freemasonry,' that in: 37
"Beirut, a new Freemasonic lodge named, Christian-Muslim Freemasonry , is affiliated with the Oriental Lodge, or the Grand Arab Orient. The Master of the Grand Arab Orient claims that he is the awaited Mahdi, as he is a direct descendant of the Prophet Daud (the biblical David, father of biblical Solomon) on the one side, and of Muhammad, on the other. Muslims of both sexes gather at the Oriental Lodge to hear 'worldly' principles expounded by their founder. .. As to the consecration, at it the applicant repeats constantly: The covenant of Muhammadan? Christian guidance, laid down by the Mahdi, is legal since whoever obeys the Mahdi obeys God and whoever defies him defies God ... The Prophet Muhammad asked God to complete his spiritual glory through a person whose sobriquet is Nur. Muhammad is a Christian, his father is a Christian and the origin of the word 'Muhammad' is Mu' ammad. Muhammad has come forth with a new religion, nay, rather with a Christian Arab way like the Orthodox and the Protestant." 38
The Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (white shriners) and there is some debate whether white Masons and black Masons have different study and Masonic ritual criteria, it may vary from jurisdictions, but the fundamentals of Masonic ritual and teachings are closely similar.
SHRINERS SPEAK THE SAME AS MUSLIMS
Here is another example of a Shriner's traveling card explicitly using Islamic vernacular that reads: "In the name of Allah, Merciful, and Compassionate. I desire to visit a Temple or Shrine in many cities. He is a good man, patient, cultural of sterling worth. There is no conqueror but Allah. Authorized with power by the Imperial Council Ancient Arabic Order Lodges of The Mystic Shrine. Witness the deputy and representative of temples in the East. Mohammed traveled from Mecca in the South to the North in Medina. Please Allah, we shall travel every where in safety. Small things influence great. Do not travel in the heat of the day. Travel with your eyes and ears open. By the grace if Allah, we have found repentance. Politeness is small solver. Action is power. Everything is from Allah. There is no deity, but Allah". 39
However, once again I do not think there is any intent to proselytize the religion of Islam with in the Shrine Temple nor is the Masonic Order placing Islam on a higher plateau in relations to other faiths. But Shriners have created a mythological Islam that is full of mysticism in order to further teach the importance of deity and justify ritual and enhance moral lessons. I learned that in the Masonic Lodge there was supposedly two subjects that were considered off limits religion and politics, yet these subjects consistently dominate lodge discussions.
THE VICTORY CEREMONY, DIRECTLY FROM THE HOLY QUR'AN
Muslims will never accept Freemasonry ritual concept of an allegorical Islam that is steeped in legendary fairy-tales. My research revealed that the Holy Qur'an is used in the Shrine Temple, in fact the first Quranic chapter titled, "Al-Fatihah" (the opening) is recited. This is the language used by the Shriners: "Assalamo Aleikum was rahmatullah " which the Shriners translate from Arabic to English interpret as "Be Our Salutations and God's Blessing on You". 40
It is further stated in broken Arabic: Alhamdo-Lilahi Rabbil A 'lamen Arrahman Irrahim Malik -I Youmiddin. Iyyaka Na ' Buda- Iyyaka Nasta' In Ehdinnassiraim Ustabin Sinatallazina An ' Amta Ailaihim Ghairil Maghzubilalahim Walazzalin Aamin. 41
This Arabic Islamic prayer is translated by the Shriners in the English language as such, "All possible amount of praises and thankfulness goes to God who is the creator and cherisher of all the worlds. He is most kind, most merciful. He is the only King of the day of judgment. 0' Allah! Only thee do we worship and only thee do we beg assistance (in all our needs). Guide us the right wiry; the way of those to whom you been gracious and bountiful; not those who go astray, Aamin! (Grant my prayers)." 42
This above phraseology is the identical Quranic verses that are often recited in Islamic Mosques and Masjids as one of the majestic prayers of Islam, with the exception to the poor Arabic as cited by the Shriners. If nothing else, Muslims could assist Shrine Masonry as lecturers, which will alleviate some of the ignorance toward at least understanding Islam from the secular and offer Arabic language classes to refine the beauty in this language.
Robert McCoy who authored the book titled, A Dictionary of Freemasonry, stated that the : "Alcoran (AI-Koran). The sacred book of the Mahommedans, or rather a sacred book; for they recognize the old Hebrew Scriptures as of greater authority. The Alcoran (AI-Koran) contains the revelation made to Mahommed, his doctrines and precepts. In a Masonic Lodge of Mahommedans it should lay on the alter as the Bible does in a Lodge of Christians" 43
The Shrine Obligation explicitly uses Islamic terminology " ... On my voluntary desire, uninfluenced and of free accord do hereby assume, without reserve, the Obligations of the Nobility of the Mystic Shrine, as did the elect of the Temple of Mecca, the Moslem and the Mohammedan. I do hereby, upon the Bible, and mysterious legend of the Koran, and its dedication to the Mohammedan faith, promise and swear and vow on the faith and honor of an upright man, come weal or woe, adversity or success, that I will never reveal any secret part or portion whatsoever of the ceremonies I have received ." 44
How many Shriners would know and understand that the term Mohammedan is highly offensive to Muslims because it suggest that Muslims worship Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, as opposed to Allah (God). The Shrine Obligation goes on "In willful violations where of I may incur the fearful penalty of having my eyeballs pierced to the center with a three-edged blade, my fleet flayed and I be forced to walk the hot sands upon the sterile shores of the Red Sea until the flaming Sun shall strike me with a livid plague, and may Allah, the God of Arab Moslem and Mohammedan, the God of our fathers, support me the entire fulfillment of the same Amen. Amen. Amen". 45
This penalty (Shrine Obligation) gives credibility to Elijah Muhammad's explanation in his Lost-Found Muslim Lesson, Number 1, which reads like the Masonic Catechism. Muhammad in his 'Supreme Wisdom' lesson asked the Question: "Why does Muhammad make the devil study from thirty-five to fifty years before he can call himself a Moslem son? And he must add a sword on the upper part of the Holy and Greatest Universe flag of Islam".
Muhammad provides us with the answer to this riddle like question, "So that he could clean himself up. A Moslem does not love the devil regardless to how long he studies. After he has devoted thirty-five or fifty years trying to learn and do like the original man, he could come and do trading among us and we not kill him as quick as we would the other devils, that is who have not gone under this study. After he goes through with this labor from thirty- five to fifty years, we permit him to wear our Holy Flag which is the Sun, Moon, and Stars. He must add the sword on the upper part. The sword is the emblem of Justice and it was used by the original man in Muhammad's time".
Muhammad continues "thus, it was placed on the upper part of the flag so that the devil can always see it, so he will keep in mind that anytime he reveals the secrets, his head would be taken off by the sword. We give him this chance so that he could clean himself up and come among us. The Holy Flag of Islam is the greatest and only flag known ... " 46
FARRAKHAN'S MINISTER MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ISLAM AND SHRINE
Tynnetta Muhammad, a scholar in the Nation of Islam, as headed by Minister Louis Farrakhan, she has an affinity toward numerology, esoteric, metaphysical science and her writings often reflect the philosophical insight of a Sufi Islamic Imam and/or an Eastern Religious Sage who had mastered the lessons in the, "Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece".
Tynneta Muhammad stated that she visited the George Washington Masonic Memorial Museum in Alexandra, Virginia she stated: "On the sixth floor of the towering ten (10)-story edifices is the Shriner's Temples and Hospitals as they are numbered throughout North America. In a glass showcase one may view a display of various Shriner's fezzes adorned with Arabic names."
She cotinues "Above these names is placed the emblem of a Crescent-like scimitar with a star, symbolizing their oath of secrecy ... Within this room there are several portraits of at least four Presidents of the United States who were Shriners. There are also portraits of at least four Mexican Presidents and the last reigning Monarch of Hawaii. In the Imperial Throne Room, there is a mural on the walls depicting the gathering of Pilgrims in the Holy City of Mecca, Arabia. "Centered in the mural is a replica of the Kabah. Directly in front of this mural is a slightly elevated center platform around which are placed thirteen chairs. On the center table facing these chairs is placed a miniature copy of the Kabah and a copy of the Holy Qur 'an. We learned in our investigations that the use of the Islamic symbols was introduced a little over one hundred years ago between 1876 and 1877. It is only after a Mason or Moslem Son attains the 32nd degree that he can be admitted as a shriner" 47
THERE IS A LACK OF SCHOLARSHIP RELATIVE TO SHRINE MASONRY AND ISLAM
What this writer found to be astonishing is that other than the literary works of Mustafa EI-Amin who dedicated a body of work to understanding the relationship between Islam and Freemasonry, it is for the most a part a virgin subject. I applaud El-Amin for being a pioneer on this controversial subject Islam and its connections to Freemasonry.
There need to be more scholarship in this area and an in depth comparative study done on Islam and Freemasonry. There is no deniability that Shrine Masonry and the Religion of Islam share some commonalities, which the former perhaps view as inconsequential, but the latter is a lot more passionate about any "pseudo sect" using Islam in an incorrect manner.
This is not surprising because most religions and their parishioners are not taught to be tolerant nor is it permissible to deviate from the original theological intent. So why should I think any different about El-Amin's position and the religion of Islam position as it relates to Freemasonry in general. The Shriners philosophy continue evoke sentiments of Islamic History throughout the Mystic Shrine but perhaps not out of any Islamic convictions, rather to instill the value of moral principles.
SHRINE POINTS US TO THE EAST
"Our alliance or the Rite of our Mystic Shrine is ancient, honorable, benevolent and secret. It is devoted to the cause of justice, truth and mercy. It is ancient as the corner-stone of Mohammed's Temple of Mecca; as secret as the Moslem that bound the tribes of Arabia to Allah or their God; as honorable as the Christian, and the tenets to which it is dedicated when once assumed cannot be eschewed or cast aloof. We Know no retrogression; justice is our escutcheon; charity beyond reason we do not expect; virtue must be regarded for its peerless worth and morality observed for the general good of all. We require absolute secrecy and desire all our disciples an interest in our noble cause and a just observance of the tenets of our faith. Let these preliminary teachings be deeply graven upon your hearts. They are priceless when well observed and attributes that cannot be bought with paltry, sordid gold. By the existence of Allah and the creed of Mohammed; by the legendary sanctity of our Tabernacle at Mecca, we greet you, and in commemoration of the Arab's faith in purity and innocence.48
WHAT INSPIRED ME TO DO THIS RESEARCH
What inspired me to write this article, I was giving a copy of the Phylaxis, Fall 2003 magazine by a Past Master named Ben Taylor of Doric Lodge # 28 Prince Hall Affiliated in Durham, North Carolina. Brother Taylor is an older brother perhaps in mid-?seventies, but he has always struck me to be a serious student of Masonry.
He was aware that I was doing research on Islam (Muslims) and Shrine Masonry and there was an article in this particular issue titled, "The Moorish Science Temple: A Religion Influenced by Prince Hall Freemasonry", authored by Reverend Dr. Robert L. Uzzel that he thought, I could appreciate. 49
I was very intrigued by brother Uzzel's scholarship, which his investigation uncovers the root connections between the Moorish Science Temple and the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. I believe Brother Uzzel is a Christian and a Mason and this writer considers himself a free thinker thus, this is not to suggest that objectivity can not be giving to an Islamic topic when covered by a Christian scholar.
Brother Uzzel does an extremely excellent job with this topic, he gave a great deal of attention to the Moorish Science Temple point of view, but did not expound upon what Freemasonry has in their body of liturgy, teachings, philosophy, dogma, ritual, etc., relative to the Islamic Religion. This is what will separate my research from Brother Uzzel and I too will cover some aspects of the Moorish Science Temple and its enigmatic leader Nobel Drew Ali.
A few years ago prior to his death, I had the opportunity to visited with Dr. C. Eric Lincoln who was a professor Emeritus at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He lived about two miles from my home and we discussed the plight of Islam in America and consequently he had written the first scholarly sociological study on "Black Muslims" in 1961 titled, "Black Muslims in America" . Dr. Lincoln also was a 33rd degree Mason and he and I spent over two hours talking about Noble Drew Ali, I still value that discussion .
NOBLE DREW ALl: MUSLIM OR MOSLEM SON
Noble Drew Ali was born Timothy Drew on January 8, 1886, in the state of North Carolina in the rural mountain town of Cherokee. Ali incorporated Shriners philosophy, literature, Masonic regalia, etc., as part of his mystic Islamic teachings. In the Shriners 'Recognition Test', the question is asked, "Then I presume you are a Noble?" Answer: "I am so accepted by all men of Noble birth". 50
Thus, it is clear that the title 'Noble' was used by the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Caucasian side of the Mystic Shrine) years before the Moorish Science Temple of America was formulated. I stated earlier that the Mystic Shrine claimed an origin that dates back to 644 A.D. to the Grand Sheik of Mecca, but history gives the Mystic Shriners origin as being June 6, 1876. 51
There is no doubt in my mind and I am in agreement with Brother Uzzel that Ali had some involvement in Freemasonry. Noble Drew Ali's full and complete attribute was Sharieff Abdul Ali (name translates to mean: Honorable, Servant, Exalted). Some scholars claim that Ali came out of the Marcus Garvey Movement of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). However, in truth and reality Garvey did not teach Islam, although, his mentor Duce Muhammad Ali was an Egyptian-Sudanese Muslim but Marcus Garvey taught a Pan-Nationalist view of Christianity and not Islam. 52
SHRINE MASONRY IS THE ROOT OF BLACK ISLAM IN AMERICA
Noble Drew Ali perhaps became affiliated with the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the African American side of Shrine Masonry), which was founded in Chicago in 1893. Ali may have even discovered a distorted view of Islam via his initiation into the 33? Masonry and the Mystic Shrine. 53
The Shriners in a subtle way perhaps pointed Ali to investigate Egypt, Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Morocco, etc., because the Order in theory does understand that the root of civilization and knowledge originated in the east. Ali borrowed the tall burgundy fez with the tassel from the Shriners, who borrowed it from the Muslims in the east. The symbolic clasped hands in Moorish Science regalia, in particular the position of the right thumb depicts a Masonic Hand shake(Masonic Token). This is the symbol of unity in Moorish doctrines. 54
It is alleged that Ali traveled to Egypt, where he was initiated into the Lesser Mystery Systems of the great pyramids and also traveled to Morocco where he studied Islam under some of the top Imams of North Africa. It is believed that the Imams commissioned Sharrieff Abdul Ali (Noble Drew Ali) to come back to North America and teach the African descendants the true religion of Islam. 55
Sharrieff Abdul Ali (Noble Drew Ali) claimed a so-called bloodline lineage to Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal AI-Saud (1876- 1953). He was passionately called King Abdul Aziz. Al-Saud took the country of Hijaz, the Arabian Peninsula in 1926 A.D., and renamed it 'Saudi Arabia' after himself. Al-Saud rule's marked the beginning of an anti-Islamic Monarchy in the Holy Land. He had 43 sons including King Fahd. Surely Allah will reveal and distinguish truth from falsehood. 56
Ali required his followers to relinquish their United States Citizenship; moreover, he issued them 'Nationality Cards', which stated, "This is your nationality and identification card for the Moorish Science Temple of America, and birthrights for the Moorish Americans, etc. We honor all of the Divine Prophets: Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius. May the blessings of the God of our father Allah, be upon you that carry this card. I do hereby declare that you are a Moslem under the Divine Laws of the Holy Koran of Mecca. Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. I am a citizen of the USA" 57 Note the spelling of Muslim is 'Moslem', which is typically the way that the Shriners pronounce and spell it, the terms Holy Qur'an is spelled 'Holy Koran,' and Prophet Muhammad is spelled Mohammed the exact ways the Shriners use this lexicon. A1i could never from an ideological standpoint distance his teachings and Islamic philosophy from the essentials of the Mystic Shrine, even after visiting the east and witnessing the theology of Islam being taught by some of the wisest Imams and Sheiks.
His movement remained interdependent on shrinedom evidence of Islamic mysticism that existed in an oriental illusion. However, A1i's efforts must be applauded because he was the first African American (Asiatic Black man) and Muslim leader in 1913 in the city of Newark, New Jersey to formalize an Islamic movement in America. There is a loose theory that maintains Master Wali Fard Muhammad who was born February 26, 1877 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and was in and out America, for twenty years prior to making his identity known; moreover, he personally taught five men, Drew A1i, Father Divine, Marcus Garvey, Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses Founder) and Elijah Muhammad and with the exception to Muhammad, it is believed by some, that the other four leaders corrupted his original teachings. Whether the latter taught the former or visa versa, it is without a doubt that the greatest influence on "black Islam" in America has been its unconventional relationship to Shrine Masonry.
Professor Ravanna Bey states, "Moorish Americans are required to master the Holy Koran, a text written in 1926 by the prophet Nobel Drew A1i. It is not to be confused with the Orthodox Qur'an inspired by the Arabian Prophet Muhammad. Drew A1i's Holy Koran is an abbreviated version of a Tibetan Text written in the Pali Language before being translated into English. The more complete version of the Tibetan Text is the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ. (written by Levi H. Dowling 1844-1911). Some of A1i's critics state that as far doctrines are concern, he did not bring anything new. In fact he plagiarized the foundations of his teachings from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ. 58
The author Peter Lamborn Wilson, who authored the book titled, Sacred Drifts: Essay on the Margins of Islam had this to say about Moorish Symbols: "The mystic circle-seven appears at the front of Noble Drew Ali's Circle Seven Koran. It relates to the Elohim, the angles or 'gods' called by him 'the Seven Eyes of Allah.' The handshake, used as a symbol by many groups, may be Masonic in origin. According to Isa Al- Mahdi, the handclasp represents Divine Unity. The Fez may also be adopted from the Black Shriners, although in Drew Ali's time it was common in the Islamic world, and the shape here is distinctly Moroccan ...Nobel Drew Ali was initiated in several branches of Masonry---a movement which has translated certain elements of Islamic into occidental culture. One possible link with Islam might have risen from the meeting between 'Assassins' and Knights Templar during the Crusades; Rosicrucian's also claim an Eastern origin (in Yemen). From the point of view of 'heretical' Westerners, Islam represents a source of esoteric knowledge. From Xerox Moorish Science Temple text, 1973. 59
Noble Drew Ali stated in his Holy Koran in a chapter titled, "After the Feast----the Homeward Journey-- The Missing Jesus--- The Search for Him---His Parents Find Him in the Temple----He goes with them to Nazareth----Symbolic Meaning of Carpenter's Tools. Ali stated: "One day as he was bringing forth the tools for work he said: These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the mind where things are made of thought and where we build up character. We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the crooked places of the wiry and make the corners of our conduct square. We use the compass to draw the circles around our passions and desires and keep them in the bounds of righteous. We use the ax to cut wiry the knotty, useless, ungainly parts and to make character symmetrical. We use the hammer to drive home the truth, and pound it in until it is a part of every part. We use the plane to smooth the rough, uneven surface of joint and block and board that go to build the temples for the truth. The chisel, line, the plummet and saw all have their uses in the workshop of the mind And then this ladder with its trinity of steps, faith, hope and love; on it we climb up to the dome of purity in life. And on the twelve step ladder, we ascend until we reach the pinnacle of that which life is spent to build the Temple of Perfected Man. 60
This above quotation by Noble Drew Ali is classical Masonic philosophy in each degree in Masonry the candidate is provide a set of working tools, but we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to use them for the more noble and glorious purpose.61
This is what separate Operative Masonry from Speculative Masonry, the former used artistic trades to beautify the external, and the latter Speculative Masonry teaches how to subdue one's passion and improve themselves in Masonry by instilling the principles of God, friendship and brotherly love. The sublime teachings of right angles, perpendiculars and horizontals, etc., it is also designed to inculcate moral edification and spiritual values. The construction tools have a meaning of duality in Masonry that can only be interpreted from it rites and sacrament.
Arthur H. Fauset, in his pamphlet, Moorish Science Temple of America supports the contention that of Peter Wilson and Robert Uzzel who maintained that Ali's Islamic movement was heavily influenced by the Mystic Shrine and he indeed borrowed their philosophy, lingo, ritual and the Masonic world view; Fauset states, "Note the extensive use of ritual regalia reminiscent of the 'Ancient Arabic Egyptian Arabic Orders of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdiction, 'known as 'Black Shriners'. The 'Black Shriners', consisting of 32 and 33 degree Masons were incorporated as an organization in 1893 in Chicago. They used such titles as 'Noble' (Sharif) and 'Sheik'; called their meeting places 'Temples' claimed an ancient origin in Islamic countries and wore fezzes on ceremonial occasions. The Moorish Science Temple utilize the symbols of the symbols of the star and crescent, the' All -Seeing-Eye' and two hands shaking (in a Masonic grip) their letterhead. The wearing of the red fezzes was mandatory for male members. 62
The Freemasonry critic Ed Decker in his book titled, "The Dark Side of Freemasonry", in which he gives a reasonable explanation relative to how the fez was introduced into Shrine Masonry, Decker states, " ... I did a little study on the Fez. The Fez comes from the name of the City of Fez, a city in Morocco, in northwest Africa. In the early eight century, the city was overrun by Islamic Hordes. They came into the Christian City of Fez and demanded they convert to Islam ... 63
In conclusion, this study could have focused a little more on the Master Wali Fard Muhammad (1877-1933), *the founder of the Nation of Islam who mysteriously disappeared in 1933 and Elijah Muhammad (1897- 1975). However, there is little doubt that the Moorish Science Temple, Nation of Islam, the Five Percent Nations of Gods and Earths, the Tabernacle Temple (Dr. York's Organization), Hebrew Israelite Nation (headed by Yahweh Ben Yahweh), the EI-Rukns, etc., have been influenced by Black Freemasonry in America. Yet, in an uncanny way, international Islam may have sparked Shrine Masonry in to existence in 644 AD. But there is very little research in this area to fully answer all the questions of how, when, where, what, who and why the six questions that allows social scientist and historians to objectively answer and substantiate the facts based on empirical findings.
SHRINE MASONRY HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT TO PRACTICE ITS CRAFT
This article will perhaps challenge Prince Hall Masonry scholars, in particular and Shrine Masonry in general, to delve deeper in their ritual and Islamic roots in order understand the sensitivity of Muslims; however, both Freemasonry and Islam have a moral obligation to ease the suspicion, misconceptions and enhance better communications between the two entities. Islam as a religion is here to stay and the Black order of Freemasonry is here to stay and Freemasonry in general. In the early 1900,s Caucasian Masons took Prince Hall Masons and Shriners to court claiming that Prince Hall Masonry was 'clandestine' " ... the White Masonic Order lost their legal battle to the Black Masons and on June 23, 1929, the United Supreme Court handed down the decision that guaranteed that Prince Hall Masons and Shriners had all the rights as a fraternity to appear in public and in private to practice the time honored traditions of Masonry" .
Fahim A. Knight is located in Durham, North Carolina United States of America and is the Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL BLACK THINK THANK. Our objective is to inform, educate and re-train the thinking of black people and all people of goodwill. Fahim Knight is a Prince Hall Mason of Doric Masonic Lodge # 28 in Durham, NC and has been engaged in Masonic research for over ten years. Fahim can be contacted at fahimknight@yahoo.com.
STAY AWAKE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
FAHIM A. KNIGHT-EL
By Fahim A. Knight-EL
ISLAM'S KNOWLEDGE IS 360 DEGREES A COMPLETE CIRCLE
Islam claim to represent 360 degrees of knowledge, which is a complete circle and the Masons who reaches the apex of becoming a thirty-third degree only have attained partial knowledge. It is this so-called incompleteness of the acquisition of knowledge, which often draws the un-daunting criticism from Muslims. However, I do not think Masonry was intending for thirty-third degree to freeze or terminate its devotees ability to continue this infinite quest to study, research, analyze and to acquire wisdom, etc. Masonry is both a science and a social science and this journey (or traveling path) could lead you in various directions.
For example, Masonry can led you Madam H.P. Blavatsky who is a master in the field of Theosophy and authored two monumental works, The Secret Doctrine: The Synthesis of Religion and Philosophy and "Isis Unveiled" and you could spend a lifetime deciphering Manley P. Hall's book titled, "Secret Teachings of all Ages". Moreover, and never exhaust the boundless wisdom because the ancients intended for it to be never -ending and to suggest that our Masonic travel ends at the United Supreme Council, 33rd Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites of Freemasonry conferring the honorary 33rd degree in a formalized way, completes our knowledge goal is ludicrous. This false contention is arguably the fuel that breeds so many misconceptions between the two entities.
Elijah Muhammad stated" "Only in higher freemasonry is there a little teachings at the top, mostly of this particular order that mentions the teachings of Almighty God Allah, but ( you have to pay a lot of money to become a 33'rd degree Mason. .. A Mason cannot be a good Mason unless he knows the Holy Qur'an and follow its teachings ... " 30
The secret to Freemasonry, is that there is no secret, and anyone who is willing to take the time to investigate this subject could get a working knowledge of the order from the first degree (Entered Apprentice) to the thirty-third (Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry) and/or the York Rite Side.
ALI IBN TALIB THE FOUNDER OF SHIA ISLAM
Dr. Malachi Z. York formerly known as Imam As Sayyid Issa Al Haddi AI Mahdi who at on time headed the Ansaar Allah Community (aka the Nubian Islamic Hebrews), who perhaps borrowed a sizable amount of his Masonic philosophy from Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. But Dr. York adds some historical rationale to when and how Islam and Freemasonry perhaps got intertwined. Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (PBUH 570-632 AD.), the founder of the Islamic religion and at the death of the prophet, questions of succession arose and a Caliphate system called the "Rightly Guide Ones" was enacted and some of the closes companions to the Prophet Muhammad would be the ones ordained to continue promoting Islam after the prophet's death. This leadership came from four men: Abu Baker (632-634 AD.), Umar Ibn AI-Khattab (634-644 AD.), Abdullah Ibn Uthman (644-656 AD.), and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (656-661 AD.). 31
Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib (the fourth and final successor) rein of leaderships is perhaps the most controversial of all the proceeding Caliphs, he was Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. Some Islamic scholars maintain that Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (PBUH) had chosen Ali as his successor and he should have been ordained as the first Caliph of Islam and the succession of leadership would have been past down through the seed of Ali and his wife Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, which would have secured a bloodline succession. 32
Shia Islam believes that Ali was the first person to convert to Muhammad's new Islamic religion and was so-called hand picked by Muhammad to serve as his only legitimate successor and this belief brings in the question the credibility of the other said three Caliphs that has found legitimacy within Sunni Islamic doctrine.
This belief is being taught within Shia Islam even today in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. etc., this is one of the ideological and theological discrepancies, which separates Shia Islam from the dominant majority Sunni Islam. Sunni Islam is very clear about its criteria, e.g., one must accept the Prophet hood of Muhammad as the last Messenger of Allah, the Holy Qur'an as Allah (God's) revealed word and lastly the Sunnah (the sayings of the prophet Muhammad) which was recorded and complied in book known as Hadiths. 33
However, there has been questions of some Hadiths authenticity and Muslims generally speaking are partial to those Hadiths compiled and translated by scholars Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. If one uses deductive reasoning, it is logical to ascertain that Shia Islam as a minority sect, in its early inception had to survive in covert secrecy due to the opposition held by the dominant Sunni sect.
Freemasonry (Shrine Masonry) may have latched on to this historical conflict between Sunni Islam and Shia Islam. The Shriners use the 644 A.D. as a date of origin for the Order and as a way to romanticize Islamic history and validate mystical rituals with an objective of teaching secular moral canon and at the same time assigning it-self to legitimate Islamic historical events.
Albert Mackey in his monumental work titled, The History of Freemasonry. alludes to the fact that there was a Freemason like sect under the guise of shia Islam adhering to Ali Ibn Ibi Talib in a mystical. like manner he stated: "Externally they practice the duties of Islamism, although they internally renounce them; they believed in the divinity of Ali, in uncreated light as the principles of all created things, and in Sheikh Ras-ed-dia, the Grand Prior of the Order in Syria, and contemporary with the Grand Master Hassan I., as the last representative of Deity on earth. The Rev. Mr. Lyde, who traveled among the remains of the sect in 1852, says that they professed to believe in all the prophets, but had a chief respect for Mohammed and his son-in-law Ali, and speaks of their secret prayers and rites ... " 34
PROPHET MUHAMMAD OF ARABIA
Islam as a religion didn't start to geographically expand itself beyond the Arabian Peninsula until approximately 640 A.D. some eight years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) There is a historical misnomer that Prophet Muhammad was this great conquer, that colonized huge foreign territories by way of the sword. Islam's expansion beyond its boarder must be attributed Ali Ibn Abi Talib two sons, Hasan Ibn Ali and his brother, Husayn Ibn Ali.
Dr. York stated: "The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of Mystic Shrine began exactly one hundred years before the opening of the Seventh Seal in 1970.Shriners falsely claim the Son-in-law and cousin of Noble Prophet Mustafa Muhammad Al-Amin (aka Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, Amiyrul Mu 'Miniyn Ali (Ali Ibn Abi Talib), the commander of the faithful, founded this secret society in 644 A.D.
He goes on to state, "the Shrine Rituals were concocted for the amusement of American Masons. The Shriners bear such titles as High Priest, Rabban, Oriental Guide, Worshipful Master, Warden, and Imperial Deputy. Incorporated within their studies are the basic precepts of AI-Islam. The laws of the Mystic Shrine are not to be broken. They are to be kept secret and never let out or passed on to anyone. A Shriner supposedly is devoted to the cause of justice, truth and mercy. Justice is the sword which is their symbol".
"Truth is AI-Islam and the mercy is shown by the Arabs allowing the Christians to enter into their Holy City, Jerusalem. These teachings were gifts granted by the mercy of the Arabs. The Muslim Sons (Shriners) were allowed to serve as guides-to the Christian pilgrims to the city of Mecca".
"The Christians and the Arabs made a covenant by crossing swords, whereby the Arabs permitted the Christians to enter this city because the Christians believed in the Messiah, Jesus. The sword was there as an emblem of justice and it was used by the original man in the Prophet Mustafa Muhammad Al-Amin 's time (570-632 A.D.). It was placed on the upper part of the flag so that the Devil could be constant~ reminded that if he revealed any secrets, his head would be taken by this sword." 35
Whether one view Dr. York's explanation as being plausible or not, he does make an attempt to introduce some historical events and dates that loosely connects Islam and Freemasonry, which gives it some chronological rationale.
DID FREEMASONRY INSPIRE THE AFROCENTRIC MOVEMENT
In the mid 1990's the Afrocentric Movement in America came under attack mainly by white academia and Zionist Jews, as a result of Black scholars making a serious scholarly and intellectual attempt, to reclaim the contributions Black Africans made to Egypt and to all of humanity.
It was Moleif Kete Asante, a Temple University African American Studies professor who authored the book, "Afrocentricity" that took the brunt of this attack, but other black scholars such as Yosef A. A. Ben-Jochannan, Leonard Jefferies, Asa Hillard, John Henrik Clarke, Amos Wilson, Na'im Akbar, Tony Martin, Frances Cress Welsing, Khallid Abdul Muhammad, etc., were not spared by this counter on-slaught.
Mary Lefkowitz was one of the Zionist scholars who led this counter movement against Afrocentric scholars; she is an Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Wellesley College who authored the book, titled, "Not Out of Africa: How Afrocentrism Became an Excuse to Teach Myth as History".
Lefkowitz accused the African-Centered thinkers of concocting fantasies and myths and claim it to be history, but more interesting she attributes these so-called fictional tales that were being advocated by African-Centered thinkers to be nothing more than glorified Masonic history. Leftkowitz's in a chapter titled, "How Did the Myth of an Egyptian Mystery Come to be Preserved in Freemasonry". 36
She stated,"In reality, the Freemasonic movement in its present form is relatively modern, and has its origin in the seventeenth century A.D. But it is an article of faith in the Freemasons' own histories of their movement that there were freemasons in earliest antiquity. Their rites and mythology preserve the essence of 'Egyptian' mysteries and philosophy prevalent in late antiquity ... A striking quality of Freemasonry is its 'imaginative attachment to the religion and symbolism of the Egyptians". 37
Lefkowitz's contention is of important because as the same way she describes how Freemasonry had so-called attached itself to the origin and the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, Muslims and Islam would argue a similar point of how Freemasonry has connected itself to the religion of Islam in a like manner.
If Freemasonry claims of antiquity is factual (this author believe that it is), then there is no other civilization that could compare to the majesty and valor of Egypt and on the other hand, Islam (interpreted to referring to Mecca and Medina) with all its religious mystique would have been two perfect mythical and historical societies for Freemasonry to affix itself to, but Freemasons would argue that these nations aspired and flourished because of Masonic enlightenment and not the other away around.
MIDDLE EAST FREEMASONRY AND ISLAM
In a book titled," Freemasonry". authored by Muhammad SafWat al- Saqqa Amin and co-authored by Sa'di Abu Habib which was published by the Muslim World League in 1980. These two authors are Muslims and quite naturally they are apologist for Islam, but there was a segment in this book I found intriguing, in subchapter titled, 'A New Lodge: Christian-Muslim Freemasonry,' that in: 37
"Beirut, a new Freemasonic lodge named, Christian-Muslim Freemasonry , is affiliated with the Oriental Lodge, or the Grand Arab Orient. The Master of the Grand Arab Orient claims that he is the awaited Mahdi, as he is a direct descendant of the Prophet Daud (the biblical David, father of biblical Solomon) on the one side, and of Muhammad, on the other. Muslims of both sexes gather at the Oriental Lodge to hear 'worldly' principles expounded by their founder. .. As to the consecration, at it the applicant repeats constantly: The covenant of Muhammadan? Christian guidance, laid down by the Mahdi, is legal since whoever obeys the Mahdi obeys God and whoever defies him defies God ... The Prophet Muhammad asked God to complete his spiritual glory through a person whose sobriquet is Nur. Muhammad is a Christian, his father is a Christian and the origin of the word 'Muhammad' is Mu' ammad. Muhammad has come forth with a new religion, nay, rather with a Christian Arab way like the Orthodox and the Protestant." 38
The Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (white shriners) and there is some debate whether white Masons and black Masons have different study and Masonic ritual criteria, it may vary from jurisdictions, but the fundamentals of Masonic ritual and teachings are closely similar.
SHRINERS SPEAK THE SAME AS MUSLIMS
Here is another example of a Shriner's traveling card explicitly using Islamic vernacular that reads: "In the name of Allah, Merciful, and Compassionate. I desire to visit a Temple or Shrine in many cities. He is a good man, patient, cultural of sterling worth. There is no conqueror but Allah. Authorized with power by the Imperial Council Ancient Arabic Order Lodges of The Mystic Shrine. Witness the deputy and representative of temples in the East. Mohammed traveled from Mecca in the South to the North in Medina. Please Allah, we shall travel every where in safety. Small things influence great. Do not travel in the heat of the day. Travel with your eyes and ears open. By the grace if Allah, we have found repentance. Politeness is small solver. Action is power. Everything is from Allah. There is no deity, but Allah". 39
However, once again I do not think there is any intent to proselytize the religion of Islam with in the Shrine Temple nor is the Masonic Order placing Islam on a higher plateau in relations to other faiths. But Shriners have created a mythological Islam that is full of mysticism in order to further teach the importance of deity and justify ritual and enhance moral lessons. I learned that in the Masonic Lodge there was supposedly two subjects that were considered off limits religion and politics, yet these subjects consistently dominate lodge discussions.
THE VICTORY CEREMONY, DIRECTLY FROM THE HOLY QUR'AN
Muslims will never accept Freemasonry ritual concept of an allegorical Islam that is steeped in legendary fairy-tales. My research revealed that the Holy Qur'an is used in the Shrine Temple, in fact the first Quranic chapter titled, "Al-Fatihah" (the opening) is recited. This is the language used by the Shriners: "Assalamo Aleikum was rahmatullah " which the Shriners translate from Arabic to English interpret as "Be Our Salutations and God's Blessing on You". 40
It is further stated in broken Arabic: Alhamdo-Lilahi Rabbil A 'lamen Arrahman Irrahim Malik -I Youmiddin. Iyyaka Na ' Buda- Iyyaka Nasta' In Ehdinnassiraim Ustabin Sinatallazina An ' Amta Ailaihim Ghairil Maghzubilalahim Walazzalin Aamin. 41
This Arabic Islamic prayer is translated by the Shriners in the English language as such, "All possible amount of praises and thankfulness goes to God who is the creator and cherisher of all the worlds. He is most kind, most merciful. He is the only King of the day of judgment. 0' Allah! Only thee do we worship and only thee do we beg assistance (in all our needs). Guide us the right wiry; the way of those to whom you been gracious and bountiful; not those who go astray, Aamin! (Grant my prayers)." 42
This above phraseology is the identical Quranic verses that are often recited in Islamic Mosques and Masjids as one of the majestic prayers of Islam, with the exception to the poor Arabic as cited by the Shriners. If nothing else, Muslims could assist Shrine Masonry as lecturers, which will alleviate some of the ignorance toward at least understanding Islam from the secular and offer Arabic language classes to refine the beauty in this language.
Robert McCoy who authored the book titled, A Dictionary of Freemasonry, stated that the : "Alcoran (AI-Koran). The sacred book of the Mahommedans, or rather a sacred book; for they recognize the old Hebrew Scriptures as of greater authority. The Alcoran (AI-Koran) contains the revelation made to Mahommed, his doctrines and precepts. In a Masonic Lodge of Mahommedans it should lay on the alter as the Bible does in a Lodge of Christians" 43
The Shrine Obligation explicitly uses Islamic terminology " ... On my voluntary desire, uninfluenced and of free accord do hereby assume, without reserve, the Obligations of the Nobility of the Mystic Shrine, as did the elect of the Temple of Mecca, the Moslem and the Mohammedan. I do hereby, upon the Bible, and mysterious legend of the Koran, and its dedication to the Mohammedan faith, promise and swear and vow on the faith and honor of an upright man, come weal or woe, adversity or success, that I will never reveal any secret part or portion whatsoever of the ceremonies I have received ." 44
How many Shriners would know and understand that the term Mohammedan is highly offensive to Muslims because it suggest that Muslims worship Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, as opposed to Allah (God). The Shrine Obligation goes on "In willful violations where of I may incur the fearful penalty of having my eyeballs pierced to the center with a three-edged blade, my fleet flayed and I be forced to walk the hot sands upon the sterile shores of the Red Sea until the flaming Sun shall strike me with a livid plague, and may Allah, the God of Arab Moslem and Mohammedan, the God of our fathers, support me the entire fulfillment of the same Amen. Amen. Amen". 45
This penalty (Shrine Obligation) gives credibility to Elijah Muhammad's explanation in his Lost-Found Muslim Lesson, Number 1, which reads like the Masonic Catechism. Muhammad in his 'Supreme Wisdom' lesson asked the Question: "Why does Muhammad make the devil study from thirty-five to fifty years before he can call himself a Moslem son? And he must add a sword on the upper part of the Holy and Greatest Universe flag of Islam".
Muhammad provides us with the answer to this riddle like question, "So that he could clean himself up. A Moslem does not love the devil regardless to how long he studies. After he has devoted thirty-five or fifty years trying to learn and do like the original man, he could come and do trading among us and we not kill him as quick as we would the other devils, that is who have not gone under this study. After he goes through with this labor from thirty- five to fifty years, we permit him to wear our Holy Flag which is the Sun, Moon, and Stars. He must add the sword on the upper part. The sword is the emblem of Justice and it was used by the original man in Muhammad's time".
Muhammad continues "thus, it was placed on the upper part of the flag so that the devil can always see it, so he will keep in mind that anytime he reveals the secrets, his head would be taken off by the sword. We give him this chance so that he could clean himself up and come among us. The Holy Flag of Islam is the greatest and only flag known ... " 46
FARRAKHAN'S MINISTER MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ISLAM AND SHRINE
Tynnetta Muhammad, a scholar in the Nation of Islam, as headed by Minister Louis Farrakhan, she has an affinity toward numerology, esoteric, metaphysical science and her writings often reflect the philosophical insight of a Sufi Islamic Imam and/or an Eastern Religious Sage who had mastered the lessons in the, "Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece".
Tynneta Muhammad stated that she visited the George Washington Masonic Memorial Museum in Alexandra, Virginia she stated: "On the sixth floor of the towering ten (10)-story edifices is the Shriner's Temples and Hospitals as they are numbered throughout North America. In a glass showcase one may view a display of various Shriner's fezzes adorned with Arabic names."
She cotinues "Above these names is placed the emblem of a Crescent-like scimitar with a star, symbolizing their oath of secrecy ... Within this room there are several portraits of at least four Presidents of the United States who were Shriners. There are also portraits of at least four Mexican Presidents and the last reigning Monarch of Hawaii. In the Imperial Throne Room, there is a mural on the walls depicting the gathering of Pilgrims in the Holy City of Mecca, Arabia. "Centered in the mural is a replica of the Kabah. Directly in front of this mural is a slightly elevated center platform around which are placed thirteen chairs. On the center table facing these chairs is placed a miniature copy of the Kabah and a copy of the Holy Qur 'an. We learned in our investigations that the use of the Islamic symbols was introduced a little over one hundred years ago between 1876 and 1877. It is only after a Mason or Moslem Son attains the 32nd degree that he can be admitted as a shriner" 47
THERE IS A LACK OF SCHOLARSHIP RELATIVE TO SHRINE MASONRY AND ISLAM
What this writer found to be astonishing is that other than the literary works of Mustafa EI-Amin who dedicated a body of work to understanding the relationship between Islam and Freemasonry, it is for the most a part a virgin subject. I applaud El-Amin for being a pioneer on this controversial subject Islam and its connections to Freemasonry.
There need to be more scholarship in this area and an in depth comparative study done on Islam and Freemasonry. There is no deniability that Shrine Masonry and the Religion of Islam share some commonalities, which the former perhaps view as inconsequential, but the latter is a lot more passionate about any "pseudo sect" using Islam in an incorrect manner.
This is not surprising because most religions and their parishioners are not taught to be tolerant nor is it permissible to deviate from the original theological intent. So why should I think any different about El-Amin's position and the religion of Islam position as it relates to Freemasonry in general. The Shriners philosophy continue evoke sentiments of Islamic History throughout the Mystic Shrine but perhaps not out of any Islamic convictions, rather to instill the value of moral principles.
SHRINE POINTS US TO THE EAST
"Our alliance or the Rite of our Mystic Shrine is ancient, honorable, benevolent and secret. It is devoted to the cause of justice, truth and mercy. It is ancient as the corner-stone of Mohammed's Temple of Mecca; as secret as the Moslem that bound the tribes of Arabia to Allah or their God; as honorable as the Christian, and the tenets to which it is dedicated when once assumed cannot be eschewed or cast aloof. We Know no retrogression; justice is our escutcheon; charity beyond reason we do not expect; virtue must be regarded for its peerless worth and morality observed for the general good of all. We require absolute secrecy and desire all our disciples an interest in our noble cause and a just observance of the tenets of our faith. Let these preliminary teachings be deeply graven upon your hearts. They are priceless when well observed and attributes that cannot be bought with paltry, sordid gold. By the existence of Allah and the creed of Mohammed; by the legendary sanctity of our Tabernacle at Mecca, we greet you, and in commemoration of the Arab's faith in purity and innocence.48
WHAT INSPIRED ME TO DO THIS RESEARCH
What inspired me to write this article, I was giving a copy of the Phylaxis, Fall 2003 magazine by a Past Master named Ben Taylor of Doric Lodge # 28 Prince Hall Affiliated in Durham, North Carolina. Brother Taylor is an older brother perhaps in mid-?seventies, but he has always struck me to be a serious student of Masonry.
He was aware that I was doing research on Islam (Muslims) and Shrine Masonry and there was an article in this particular issue titled, "The Moorish Science Temple: A Religion Influenced by Prince Hall Freemasonry", authored by Reverend Dr. Robert L. Uzzel that he thought, I could appreciate. 49
I was very intrigued by brother Uzzel's scholarship, which his investigation uncovers the root connections between the Moorish Science Temple and the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. I believe Brother Uzzel is a Christian and a Mason and this writer considers himself a free thinker thus, this is not to suggest that objectivity can not be giving to an Islamic topic when covered by a Christian scholar.
Brother Uzzel does an extremely excellent job with this topic, he gave a great deal of attention to the Moorish Science Temple point of view, but did not expound upon what Freemasonry has in their body of liturgy, teachings, philosophy, dogma, ritual, etc., relative to the Islamic Religion. This is what will separate my research from Brother Uzzel and I too will cover some aspects of the Moorish Science Temple and its enigmatic leader Nobel Drew Ali.
A few years ago prior to his death, I had the opportunity to visited with Dr. C. Eric Lincoln who was a professor Emeritus at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He lived about two miles from my home and we discussed the plight of Islam in America and consequently he had written the first scholarly sociological study on "Black Muslims" in 1961 titled, "Black Muslims in America" . Dr. Lincoln also was a 33rd degree Mason and he and I spent over two hours talking about Noble Drew Ali, I still value that discussion .
NOBLE DREW ALl: MUSLIM OR MOSLEM SON
Noble Drew Ali was born Timothy Drew on January 8, 1886, in the state of North Carolina in the rural mountain town of Cherokee. Ali incorporated Shriners philosophy, literature, Masonic regalia, etc., as part of his mystic Islamic teachings. In the Shriners 'Recognition Test', the question is asked, "Then I presume you are a Noble?" Answer: "I am so accepted by all men of Noble birth". 50
Thus, it is clear that the title 'Noble' was used by the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Caucasian side of the Mystic Shrine) years before the Moorish Science Temple of America was formulated. I stated earlier that the Mystic Shrine claimed an origin that dates back to 644 A.D. to the Grand Sheik of Mecca, but history gives the Mystic Shriners origin as being June 6, 1876. 51
There is no doubt in my mind and I am in agreement with Brother Uzzel that Ali had some involvement in Freemasonry. Noble Drew Ali's full and complete attribute was Sharieff Abdul Ali (name translates to mean: Honorable, Servant, Exalted). Some scholars claim that Ali came out of the Marcus Garvey Movement of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). However, in truth and reality Garvey did not teach Islam, although, his mentor Duce Muhammad Ali was an Egyptian-Sudanese Muslim but Marcus Garvey taught a Pan-Nationalist view of Christianity and not Islam. 52
SHRINE MASONRY IS THE ROOT OF BLACK ISLAM IN AMERICA
Noble Drew Ali perhaps became affiliated with the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the African American side of Shrine Masonry), which was founded in Chicago in 1893. Ali may have even discovered a distorted view of Islam via his initiation into the 33? Masonry and the Mystic Shrine. 53
The Shriners in a subtle way perhaps pointed Ali to investigate Egypt, Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Morocco, etc., because the Order in theory does understand that the root of civilization and knowledge originated in the east. Ali borrowed the tall burgundy fez with the tassel from the Shriners, who borrowed it from the Muslims in the east. The symbolic clasped hands in Moorish Science regalia, in particular the position of the right thumb depicts a Masonic Hand shake(Masonic Token). This is the symbol of unity in Moorish doctrines. 54
It is alleged that Ali traveled to Egypt, where he was initiated into the Lesser Mystery Systems of the great pyramids and also traveled to Morocco where he studied Islam under some of the top Imams of North Africa. It is believed that the Imams commissioned Sharrieff Abdul Ali (Noble Drew Ali) to come back to North America and teach the African descendants the true religion of Islam. 55
Sharrieff Abdul Ali (Noble Drew Ali) claimed a so-called bloodline lineage to Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal AI-Saud (1876- 1953). He was passionately called King Abdul Aziz. Al-Saud took the country of Hijaz, the Arabian Peninsula in 1926 A.D., and renamed it 'Saudi Arabia' after himself. Al-Saud rule's marked the beginning of an anti-Islamic Monarchy in the Holy Land. He had 43 sons including King Fahd. Surely Allah will reveal and distinguish truth from falsehood. 56
Ali required his followers to relinquish their United States Citizenship; moreover, he issued them 'Nationality Cards', which stated, "This is your nationality and identification card for the Moorish Science Temple of America, and birthrights for the Moorish Americans, etc. We honor all of the Divine Prophets: Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius. May the blessings of the God of our father Allah, be upon you that carry this card. I do hereby declare that you are a Moslem under the Divine Laws of the Holy Koran of Mecca. Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. I am a citizen of the USA" 57 Note the spelling of Muslim is 'Moslem', which is typically the way that the Shriners pronounce and spell it, the terms Holy Qur'an is spelled 'Holy Koran,' and Prophet Muhammad is spelled Mohammed the exact ways the Shriners use this lexicon. A1i could never from an ideological standpoint distance his teachings and Islamic philosophy from the essentials of the Mystic Shrine, even after visiting the east and witnessing the theology of Islam being taught by some of the wisest Imams and Sheiks.
His movement remained interdependent on shrinedom evidence of Islamic mysticism that existed in an oriental illusion. However, A1i's efforts must be applauded because he was the first African American (Asiatic Black man) and Muslim leader in 1913 in the city of Newark, New Jersey to formalize an Islamic movement in America. There is a loose theory that maintains Master Wali Fard Muhammad who was born February 26, 1877 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and was in and out America, for twenty years prior to making his identity known; moreover, he personally taught five men, Drew A1i, Father Divine, Marcus Garvey, Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses Founder) and Elijah Muhammad and with the exception to Muhammad, it is believed by some, that the other four leaders corrupted his original teachings. Whether the latter taught the former or visa versa, it is without a doubt that the greatest influence on "black Islam" in America has been its unconventional relationship to Shrine Masonry.
Professor Ravanna Bey states, "Moorish Americans are required to master the Holy Koran, a text written in 1926 by the prophet Nobel Drew A1i. It is not to be confused with the Orthodox Qur'an inspired by the Arabian Prophet Muhammad. Drew A1i's Holy Koran is an abbreviated version of a Tibetan Text written in the Pali Language before being translated into English. The more complete version of the Tibetan Text is the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ. (written by Levi H. Dowling 1844-1911). Some of A1i's critics state that as far doctrines are concern, he did not bring anything new. In fact he plagiarized the foundations of his teachings from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ. 58
The author Peter Lamborn Wilson, who authored the book titled, Sacred Drifts: Essay on the Margins of Islam had this to say about Moorish Symbols: "The mystic circle-seven appears at the front of Noble Drew Ali's Circle Seven Koran. It relates to the Elohim, the angles or 'gods' called by him 'the Seven Eyes of Allah.' The handshake, used as a symbol by many groups, may be Masonic in origin. According to Isa Al- Mahdi, the handclasp represents Divine Unity. The Fez may also be adopted from the Black Shriners, although in Drew Ali's time it was common in the Islamic world, and the shape here is distinctly Moroccan ...Nobel Drew Ali was initiated in several branches of Masonry---a movement which has translated certain elements of Islamic into occidental culture. One possible link with Islam might have risen from the meeting between 'Assassins' and Knights Templar during the Crusades; Rosicrucian's also claim an Eastern origin (in Yemen). From the point of view of 'heretical' Westerners, Islam represents a source of esoteric knowledge. From Xerox Moorish Science Temple text, 1973. 59
Noble Drew Ali stated in his Holy Koran in a chapter titled, "After the Feast----the Homeward Journey-- The Missing Jesus--- The Search for Him---His Parents Find Him in the Temple----He goes with them to Nazareth----Symbolic Meaning of Carpenter's Tools. Ali stated: "One day as he was bringing forth the tools for work he said: These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the mind where things are made of thought and where we build up character. We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the crooked places of the wiry and make the corners of our conduct square. We use the compass to draw the circles around our passions and desires and keep them in the bounds of righteous. We use the ax to cut wiry the knotty, useless, ungainly parts and to make character symmetrical. We use the hammer to drive home the truth, and pound it in until it is a part of every part. We use the plane to smooth the rough, uneven surface of joint and block and board that go to build the temples for the truth. The chisel, line, the plummet and saw all have their uses in the workshop of the mind And then this ladder with its trinity of steps, faith, hope and love; on it we climb up to the dome of purity in life. And on the twelve step ladder, we ascend until we reach the pinnacle of that which life is spent to build the Temple of Perfected Man. 60
This above quotation by Noble Drew Ali is classical Masonic philosophy in each degree in Masonry the candidate is provide a set of working tools, but we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to use them for the more noble and glorious purpose.61
This is what separate Operative Masonry from Speculative Masonry, the former used artistic trades to beautify the external, and the latter Speculative Masonry teaches how to subdue one's passion and improve themselves in Masonry by instilling the principles of God, friendship and brotherly love. The sublime teachings of right angles, perpendiculars and horizontals, etc., it is also designed to inculcate moral edification and spiritual values. The construction tools have a meaning of duality in Masonry that can only be interpreted from it rites and sacrament.
Arthur H. Fauset, in his pamphlet, Moorish Science Temple of America supports the contention that of Peter Wilson and Robert Uzzel who maintained that Ali's Islamic movement was heavily influenced by the Mystic Shrine and he indeed borrowed their philosophy, lingo, ritual and the Masonic world view; Fauset states, "Note the extensive use of ritual regalia reminiscent of the 'Ancient Arabic Egyptian Arabic Orders of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdiction, 'known as 'Black Shriners'. The 'Black Shriners', consisting of 32 and 33 degree Masons were incorporated as an organization in 1893 in Chicago. They used such titles as 'Noble' (Sharif) and 'Sheik'; called their meeting places 'Temples' claimed an ancient origin in Islamic countries and wore fezzes on ceremonial occasions. The Moorish Science Temple utilize the symbols of the symbols of the star and crescent, the' All -Seeing-Eye' and two hands shaking (in a Masonic grip) their letterhead. The wearing of the red fezzes was mandatory for male members. 62
The Freemasonry critic Ed Decker in his book titled, "The Dark Side of Freemasonry", in which he gives a reasonable explanation relative to how the fez was introduced into Shrine Masonry, Decker states, " ... I did a little study on the Fez. The Fez comes from the name of the City of Fez, a city in Morocco, in northwest Africa. In the early eight century, the city was overrun by Islamic Hordes. They came into the Christian City of Fez and demanded they convert to Islam ... 63
In conclusion, this study could have focused a little more on the Master Wali Fard Muhammad (1877-1933), *the founder of the Nation of Islam who mysteriously disappeared in 1933 and Elijah Muhammad (1897- 1975). However, there is little doubt that the Moorish Science Temple, Nation of Islam, the Five Percent Nations of Gods and Earths, the Tabernacle Temple (Dr. York's Organization), Hebrew Israelite Nation (headed by Yahweh Ben Yahweh), the EI-Rukns, etc., have been influenced by Black Freemasonry in America. Yet, in an uncanny way, international Islam may have sparked Shrine Masonry in to existence in 644 AD. But there is very little research in this area to fully answer all the questions of how, when, where, what, who and why the six questions that allows social scientist and historians to objectively answer and substantiate the facts based on empirical findings.
SHRINE MASONRY HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT TO PRACTICE ITS CRAFT
This article will perhaps challenge Prince Hall Masonry scholars, in particular and Shrine Masonry in general, to delve deeper in their ritual and Islamic roots in order understand the sensitivity of Muslims; however, both Freemasonry and Islam have a moral obligation to ease the suspicion, misconceptions and enhance better communications between the two entities. Islam as a religion is here to stay and the Black order of Freemasonry is here to stay and Freemasonry in general. In the early 1900,s Caucasian Masons took Prince Hall Masons and Shriners to court claiming that Prince Hall Masonry was 'clandestine' " ... the White Masonic Order lost their legal battle to the Black Masons and on June 23, 1929, the United Supreme Court handed down the decision that guaranteed that Prince Hall Masons and Shriners had all the rights as a fraternity to appear in public and in private to practice the time honored traditions of Masonry" .
Fahim A. Knight is located in Durham, North Carolina United States of America and is the Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL BLACK THINK THANK. Our objective is to inform, educate and re-train the thinking of black people and all people of goodwill. Fahim Knight is a Prince Hall Mason of Doric Masonic Lodge # 28 in Durham, NC and has been engaged in Masonic research for over ten years. Fahim can be contacted at fahimknight@yahoo.com.
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FAHIM A. KNIGHT-EL