COURSE CODE:

IIK3004 ISLAM IN AMERICA AND EUROPE

TITLE:

THE REASONS AND CHALLENGES FACED BY MALCOLM X AND HAJJ OMAR

IBN SAID FOLLOWED BY THEIR DEVELOPMENT BROUGHT TO THE
AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

INSTUCTOR:

DR. UMAR SHU'AIBU GOKARU

PREPARED BY:

NAME MATRIC NUMBER

MUHAMMAD AIMAN BIN JAFFAR U2000124/2

ACADEMY OF ISLAMIC STUDIES, UNIVERSITY MALAYA

DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION

SESION 1 2023/2024
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1

Background of Malcolm X ....................................................................................... 1

Background of Hajj Omar Ibn Said ......................................................................... 3

The Reasons and Challenges .................................................................................... 4

Malcolm X ............................................................................................................... 4

Hajj Omar Ibn Said ................................................................................................. 4

Development brought to the American Muslim Community........................................ 6

Malcolm X ............................................................................................................... 6

Omar Ibn Said ........................................................................................................ 6

Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 7

References ................................................................................................................. 8

i
Introduction
Malcolm X and Hajj Omar Ibn Said lived in different times and on different
countries, but their fights against injustice and search for identity have a deep link.
Malcolm X, a major participant in the American Civil Rights Movement while Hajj Omar
Ibn Said, an enslaved African Muslim scholar, confronted social obstacles that
influenced their views and behaviours. In this piece of writing, will explore the factors
that drove them to pursue their goals, the challenges they encountered, and the
striking similarities that exist between their fights for justice, dignity, and self-realization
in the face of great challenges.

Background of Malcolm X
Malcolm X, formerly known as Malcolm Little, encountered Islam while he was
imprisoned and wholeheartedly adopted the teachings of the Nation of Islam. His
conversion had a profound impact, prompting him to support the empowerment of
Black individuals, civil rights, and the spiritual advancement of African Americans.
Malcolm X is a well-known African American icon. Internal and external influences
shaped his growth and effect on African American culture throughout his life. Some
scholars argue that Malcolm's impact is characterised by racial division, while others
believe that he served as a source of inspiration for a generation of African American
men. Malcolm X was born on May 25, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother was the
national recording secretary for the Marcus Garvey Movement, which commanded
millions of followers in the 1920s and 1930s. His father was a baptised minister and
the chapter president of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. At the age of
six, his father died in a tragic way, and at the age of twelve, his mother died due to her
disease. Many African Americans thought that Malcolm X's father's death was an
undiscovered murder because his body was found cut up on streetcar tracks. His
mother was so sad and couldn't take care of her family. Malcolm X's mother broke
down mentally from the pain and the weight of having to raise seven kids. In the end,
she was sent to a mental hospital.

Malcolm X lost two unimaginable things that changed his life. They were the first
in a series of events that changed his life. Malcolm X went through a tragic experience
since he was young. Because his mother and father were not with him, he was open

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to the streets and bad behaviour. Because of this, Malcolm X went to a foster home
and then to a reform school. Malcolm was moving to a new town, school, and house,
which meant a lot of changes. When Malcolm was in the eighth grade, his white
teacher told him to give up on his dreams of becoming a lawyer. This event helped
Malcolm remember his place in society. Malcolm was heartbroken by what his teacher
said, and it made him question how important school was. Malcolm couldn’t see the
world that his white peers could because of their race. He remembers this important
time as a teenager when learning wasn't as important to him. Being disappointed took
the place of his desire to learn and work with the people around him. It weighed heavily
on his mind. This experience led him to lose even more faith in the church and in God.
La Mothe says, "Malcolm X's rejection of Christianity was part of his withdrawal from
and rebellion against the white world and its expectations of African American
subservience" (La Mothe 2009, 531). Because of this, Malcolm focused all his
attention on the world outside of school.

Moreover, Malcolm X's conversion to Islam is a worthwhile action in his life to build
and change the worldview based on his activism. While in prison in the early 1950s,
he encountered the Nation of Islam (NOI), an African American Muslim movement that
resonated with him due to its emphasis on racial pride and self-sufficiency. Through
NOI teachings, Malcolm X embraced Islam and adopted the name El-Hajj Malik El-
Shabazz. His conversion brought a sense of peace and direction to his life. He saw
Islam as a path towards liberation for black people, offering a spiritual foundation for
his fight against racism and injustice. He became a vocal advocate for Islam, attracting
many followers and spreading the NOI's message.

However, his conversion also caused tension with NOI leadership. This is because
his ideology is in some conflict with the NOI ideology. From there, Malcolm X
increasingly questioned some of the NOI's teachings and began to advocate for
broader Islamic unity beyond race and create his own pathway. This led to his
departure from the NOI in 1964, marking a new chapter in his spiritual journey. Lastly,
on February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in
Harlem as he spoke to members of his new Organization of Afro-American Unity.

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Background of Hajj Omar Ibn Said
Omar ibn Said was a Muslim scholar and theologian from the Fulbe tribe (Fulani
people) of Futa Toro in the Senegambia region of West Africa and born around 1770.
Some researchers said the land of Futa Toro can be describe as a place between the
two rivers which is Senegal River and Gambia River. He spent about 25 years in the
formal studies of the Islamic religious disciplines of thought through “Kitab Ulumuddin”,
including at prestigious urban centres of Islamic learning in the Senegambia region,
such as the city of Bundhu. He was captured and was sold into slavery activities in
1807 and was taken to Charleston, which is a city in South Carolina. He was enslaved
on a plantation in the vicinity of Charleston until he fled in 1810. Then, he was
recaptured in Fayetteville, North Carolina and spent the rest of his life in the
possession of the family James Owen of Balden County who is an American politician.
However, Omar ibn Said died in 1864 at the Owen family farm at Cape Fear. During
his long captivity in North Carolina, he had time to write some memoir or letter in Arabic
version including his autobiography writings.

In Jame Owen’s custody every basic things like food, clothes and place have been
provided to Omar same as them having on that time. Before he came to the Christian
country, he can practice the Islam freely like the 5-time prayers in a day, zakat,
“Sadaqat” and perform the Hajj. After came to Christian country, the Islamic practising
become fading from the usual he practices before and become more limited. In his
autobiography, also he said he was thanked to Allah by set his way sending him to
Christian family. It because he was treated gently and neither go hungry (restricted
food supply), not forced to be naked (torturing) and not forced to do hard work.

Regarding slavery issues, many thousands of enslaved Muslims were brought to

the America, such as throughout the 1700s and the first years of the 1800s. We can
see here that Islam was one of the earliest religious communities to enter America.
Muslims from the west African regions of Senegambian and Sierre Leone were come
to America with variety of ethnic and having skill in rice plantation and helps the
growing crops process in the region of America. From that, the entry of Islam also
giving a benefit to the America through the skills of Muslims people.

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The Reasons and Challenges

Malcolm X
Malcolm X was an influential figure who provided inspiration to African Americans,
regardless of their religious beliefs, to assert their identity as residents of America.
There were a lot of hard things he had to deal with when he was fighting for justice.
Firstly, he needs to face the Islamophobia in the society. Dealing with constant bias
and discrimination because of his faith could have made him feel alone and very
frustrated.

Later is racism and discrimination. Racism and discrimination have been around
for a long time and still affect people and societies around the world. Racism is the
idea that some races are better or worse than others. It leads to bias, discrimination,
and unfair treatment based on race or ethnicity. Discrimination comes in many forms,
including barriers built into institutions, unequal job and school opportunities, racial
profiling, hate speech, and acts of violence based on race. These actions keep
injustice going and make it harder for some people to get resources and opportunities.
As a Black Muslim man in America during the turbulent 1950s and 60s, Malcolm X
faced constant racism and discrimination. This made it difficult to practice his faith
freely and express his beliefs openly.

Besides, the conflict Nation of Islam (NOI) make him deal with division due to
disagreement ideology that bring by NOI. The disagreement brings the Malcolm X
always question how the NOI can grow up with that ideology. The Muslims community
seems to be split when Malcolm X announce his leaving from NOI.

In the end, Malcolm X was a complicated person who changed over time. Being a
Muslim, he had a lot of different experiences that could not be categorized in a short
list of issues. Understanding these things, however, can help us better understand
how strong, brave, and devoted he was to his beliefs and principles.

Hajj Omar Ibn Said

Firstly, Omar ibn Said was captured by a raiding army who was killing many people
at that time, and he was sold to slavery activities. He was sent to Charleston, South

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Carolina from his homeland by a ship and he was officially sold as a slave to a
Christian man.

Besides, when he reaches the Christian country, he cannot speak English fluently.
When he saw a church, he enters it. At that time, a boy was seeing him entering the
church and he inform to his father about Omar comings. The boy’s father came toward
Omar and take him away from the church about twelve miles, but Omar was not
conscious at that time and where are they heading to. From that, Omar was noticed
that he was jailed by them as long as sixteen days. From that we can see the local
people there being racism to Omar because he was a black man and cannot
understanding English correctly. By Jame Owen’s coming, his situation was changed
to comfortably because he was treating nicely by Jame Owen even, he is a Christian
man like others.

Furthermore, because of language barrier at that time he cannot spread the

da’wah even he was fluently in Arabic. As a Christian country they were speak full in
English language. Regarding this situation, Omar just practices the way of Islam
himself by depend on help of Allah to continue his life as a Muslim.

Lastly, as an immigrant people he cannot easily adapt to a new environment in a

period time. This phenomenon arises due to the diversity of cultural identities,
encompassing various races, tribes, languages, and ways of life. In his homeland,
Omar specialty was a Muslim scholars and a great farmer in planting crops. When he
comes to America, he cannot use the skills because of the slavery movement brought
by the American stop him from planting crops and was forced to do hard work. From
that, we can see how the American treat towards the immigrant in 1700s with rudely,
but not all from them doing it. Apart from that, also we can see the awareness of
humanity on that time was not spreading widely as nowadays because some people
can tolerate with immigrant and some others do not tolerate to immigrant.

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Development brought to the American Muslim Community

Malcolm X
Malcolm X left behind a legacy that is still being debated and celebrated in the
twenty-first century. His influence on the Muslim community in the America was
multifaceted and complex, and he left behind a legacy that is still being celebrated. An
increase in the visibility of Islam as well as its status as having been acknowledged.
Before arrival of Malcolm X, the America frequently regarded Islam as a religion that
was on the margins of society or even foreign. It was because of his speeches and
charismatic personality that Islam was brought into the mainstream public eye. His
speeches and personality sparked interest and curiosity among African Americans and
the general population.

During the time that the mainstream civil rights movement was speaking out.
Although he supported the objectives of the civil rights movement, Malcolm X was
critical of the movement's emphasis on nonviolence and integration. For this reason,
he criticized the movement. It was his contention that white Americans did not have a
genuine interest in racial equality, and that black people ought to be prepared to
defend themselves if they are subjected to physical assault.

Furthermore, Malcolm X's life and teachings continue to serve as a source of

inspiration for people of all faiths, which includes Muslims as well as those who do not
practice Islam. His advocacy for self-determination, his unwavering commitment to
justice, and his bravery in challenging power structures are all still relevant in the world
we live in today.

Omar Ibn Said

As Omar doing, we can see how struggle is him when he could endure his spirit
from the slavery activity even been torture by the American people. From that, we can
say that he was a pioneer in bringing and distributing the Islamic teachings in the
1800s.Those challenges he faced at that time were a benefit to the American world
because the American people can know how the Islam spread with demonstrating
their respect for Islamic teachings.

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 In the education segment, Omar established and operated schools where he
taught Arabic, Quranic studies, and Islamic law to Muslims who were either enslaved
or free. These schools were in North Carolina and Tennessee. The foundation for
religious literacy and the preservation of cultural traditions in the community was
established due to this.

Conclusion
To summarize, the aspect of Malcolm X's legacy that pertains to Islam contributes
significantly to the cohesiveness of the Muslim community. As a result of this, he can
develop additional contributions to the people, even though he is faced to racism,
criticism, and Islamophobia. Even though he was killed, his ideology continues to be
ingrained in the minds of his people, and it serves as a source of inspiration for them
to be more courageous when confronting the negative perceptions of the American
people, particularly when they are Muslims or black Americans. His religious and
political understanding undergoes a further radical transformation in the final year of
his life. This transformation is influenced in part by his immersion in Islamic teachings
and his travel experiences, which include numerous meetings with Muslim activists,
dignitaries, scholars, and students from other countries. In addition, Omar ibn Said
described his journey from Africa to the America, including the challenges he faced
along the way, and expressed his devotion to Islam as well as his belief that there is
only one God. In addition, his writings contained passages from the Quran as well as
prayers from the Islamic faith, which demonstrated his dedication to his religious
beliefs. The story of Omar ibn Said is significant because it highlights the variety of
experiences that could be found among people who were enslaved in the America, as
well as the perseverance of cultural and religious. He presents a unique perspective
on his ability to maintain his identity, religious convictions, and cultural heritage in the
face of the difficult conditions imposed by enslavement.

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Osman, G., & Forbes, C. F. (2004, September 1). Representing the West in the
Arabic Language: The Slave Narrative of Omar Ibn Said. Journal of Islamic
Studies, 15(3), 331–343. https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/15.3.331

The Autobiography of Omar ibn Said, A Muslim Slave. (2023, August 23). Bayt Al
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