By: Bareerah Binte Islam of Marlboro, NJ
2nd place in ICNA CSJ-NJ’s BHM Essay Contest 2025
Topic: What Justice Means to Me: Lessons from Black History (Grades 7 & 8)
Islam has profoundly shaped Black history, uplifting and empowering Black communities, while Black communities have also enriched the legacy of Islam in countless ways. The history of this interconnection goes back to the time of our Anbiya (A.S.), and specifically the time of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). In his farewell speech, he announced, “A white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white…except by piety and good action.” Islam encourages equality and justice between mankind, as it binds men as brothers and women as sisters to ensure the same rights and judgments to all. Black history month teaches us to not only commemorate Black Americans that contributed to society, but also Black Muslims that have learned to navigate both identities to encourage unity.
One significant black Muslim individual was Mansa Musa, the king of the Mali empire known for his pilgrimage to Makkah. During his trip, he ensured that all of his travelers had a place to stay the night, regardless of their social status. He also gave money to the needy people he visited. Mansa Musa’s actions connect directly to Islam, as the Quran and Hadith have emphasized the importance of giving to the needy. Furthermore, Mansa Musa’s efforts to increase trade in Mali greatly contributed to the spread of Islam to other regions. Mali was able to grow into a prosperous region, thanks to the Islamic values implemented by one of the most influential black Muslim leaders in history. By spreading and following Islamic teachings, Mansa Musa saw the benefits his Islam gave him in return.
In addition to increasing wealth and trade all across Africa, Mansa Musa emphasized seeking Islamic knowledge. Following the Hadith, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (Sunan Ibn Majah 224), he opened universities for Islamic scholarship around the world, including the University of Sankore. There, scholars not only studied Quran and Islamic Studies, but also acquired knowledge of subjects such as the sciences, mathematics, and history. Many Black scholars made significant observations including magnetism, pulmonary circulation, and more ideas contributing to the knowledge we have today. Islamic knowledge is often stereotyped to have only come from the Middle East, but Africa played a significant role too. Mansa Musa’s work helped fight negative perspectives and inspired many young scholars.
A more recent example of a Black Muslim figure is Malcom X, a civil rights activist who changed profoundly after his spiritual journey to Mecca in 1964. When encountering people of different races, he wrote in his letter from Mecca, “[I have met]…people who in America would have considered ‘white’— but the ‘white’ attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.” Malcolm X attributed Islam to the force that brought different races together in unity and brotherhood. This inspired him to take pride in being a Muslim and an African American, his two connected identities. It also inspired many individuals across the world to challenge their perceptions on African American Muslims.
Black Muslims have contributed to society in many ways, and their accomplishments must be acknowledged. Mansa Musa used his wealth to help the needy and spread Islam by trade, the Timbuktu scholars contributed to Muslim discoveries by creating a place for scholars and students to learn, and Malcolm X spread unity of races through religion. These examples show that Islam and Black communities are deeply intertwined in contributing to a powerful history and bringing betterment to the world.