Prophet Noble Drew Ali, Founder
M.S.T.A. Inc. No. 5
M.S.T.A. Inc. No. 5
PROPHET NOBLE DREW ALI
MOORISH-AMERICAN HISTORY
In the year 1886, there was a Divine Prophet born in the state of North Carolina. His name was Noble Drew Ali. If it sounds strange to speak of a prophet born in North Carolina, that maybe how it sounded in the days of Jesus, when some thought it strange that a prophet or anything good came out of Nazareth. As prophets of olden days came to people around the world to save nations from the wrath of Allah, a Prophet of Islam was sent also to the Moors of America, who were called Negroes. The duty of a prophet is to save nations from the wrath of Allah. As Noah and Lot warned the people of those days, Prophet Noble Drew Ali came to warn and redeem the Moors of America from their sinful ways. The nationality of Prophet Noble Drew Ali was Moorish American, the same as the people he came to uplift. The Prophet uplifted his people by teaching them the Truth -- the truth as to their creed, and the truth as to their customs. He taught them to be themselves, and the things necessary ''to make better citizens'' of men and women. He let them know that the Moorish-Americans are a part of this government, The United States, and they must obey the laws thereof. As a result, the Moorish-Americans are good citizens, and an asset to the country also, they endeavor to uplift others who have fallen along the way of life, to redeem them so as to make them an asset to the government, rather than social detriments and wards of the government. Prophet Noble Drew Ali taught that the people termed ''Negroes'' in the United States are ''Asiatic'' and specifically that they are Moorish whose forefathers inhabited Northwest and Southwest Africa before they were enslaved in North America. Marcus Garvey was given credit, by Prophet Noble Drew Ali, of being his forerunner. Garvey's teachings about national issues were similar. Garvey stated in ''Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey''; ''we will have to build our own government, industry, and cultural, before the world will stop to consider us. '' Prophet Drew Ali passed in 1929.
The Beginning
In 1913, Prophet Noble Drew Ali founded the Canaanite Temple in Newark, New Jersey. The Canaanite Temple was an early indication that the so-called Negroes were of Asiatic origin from the Holy Land of Canaan. The Movement spread across the country during the 1920's as the Moorish Holy Temple of Science, as Prophet Noble Drew Ali pioneered in attempts to instill racial pride. Before he came to Chicago in 1925, the movement proliferated to Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, and some southern cities. During his lifetime, membership may have risen as high as thirty thousand members.
In 1925, Noble Drew Ali wearing a flaming red fez, appeared on the streets of Chicago, proclaiming to the people of the colored race that they were not Negroes, Colored Folks, Black People or Ethiopians. People began to gather to hear this young man speak. He stated that the fallen sons and daughters of the Asiatic Nation of North America need to learn to love instead of hate, and know of their higher self. His words were impressive because it wasn't long before he established himself in a sizeable meeting hall on Clayborne Avenue on the north side of Chicago.
Finally by 1928, The Moorish Science Temple of America, Inc. was an established fact. It is believed that this procedure of elevating the movement to the Moorish Science Temple of America, Inc. from the Canaanite Temple in phases was to prepare the people for this great "new thought" movement; entirely different from the churches they had been used to. With the incorporation came a new charter, Divine Constitution and By Laws consisting of seven acts. There also follows seven additional laws to strengthen the guidelines for better cohesion in the organization. The object of our organization is to help in the great program of uplifting fallen humanity and teach those things necessary to make our members better citizens. The Moorish Movement is still alive today. There are many temples all over America still following the great teachings of Prophet Nobel Drew Ali. The star and crescent, fezzes, turban, membership card, button, Moorish Flag, and the correction of "El" or "Bey" to the surname signify Moorish Identity!