MALCOLM'S HAJJ
Malcolm X’s Hajj and Today’s Hunt for Humanity
Ideologues of all stripes continue to ignore on-the-ground realities
“
BY JAMES JONES
O humanity! Be mindful of your LORD who created you from a single soul, from that soul created its mate, and from them spread countless men and women. And remain conscious of God — in whose name you appeal to one another — and honor family ties. Verily, God is ever watchful over you” (4:1). “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand human relations on a global scale, race relations in the U.S. and the ability of human beings to transform themselves with God’s help. Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, was brutally assassinated as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, on Feb. 21, 1965, at the young age of 39 in front of his terrified family. Although we tend to assess his biography in terms of the narrow American Black vs. white racist realities that impacted him throughout his short life, we should also step back and try to understand some of the broader global contexts that impacted his development.
Art rendering by Anishmah Banu, 17, from Chicago, who is marketing chair for MYNA’s all-girl ISRAA course. She enjoys creating both digital and traditional art.
JULY/AUGUST 2021 ISLAMIC HORIZONS 19
