The Moorish Science Temple of America is religious society founded by the Prophet Noble Drew Ali.
In connection with our religious aims and beliefs, we promote economic security. The preaching of economic security among us is by no means as widespread and intensive as the circumstances demand. No other one thing is more needed among us at this time than greater economic power. Better positions for our men and women, more business employment for our boys and girls and bigger incomes will follow our economic security. We shall be secure in nothing until we have economic power. A beggar people cannot develop the highest in them, nor can they attain to a genuine enjoyment of the spiritualities of life.
Our men, women and children should be taught to believe in the capacity of our group to succeed in business, in spite of the trials and failures of some of them… It is a sad weakness in us as a people that we have withheld the very encouragement, support and patronage that would have made some of our worthy business ventures a grand success. And worst of all, have joined in the condemnations of them when they failed. Except in cases of actual dishonesty, discourtesy, lack of service and actual unreliability, our business enterprises in every field of endeavor should have lulled of confidence cooperation and patronage whenever and wherever they can be given.
Read carefully the doctrines of The Moorish Science Temple of America. It contains our hopes, aims, rules and articles of religion. Every member should have a copy.
A brief statement of our organization, covering Its inception, rise and progress and of the Mohammedan religion
I hope this brief statement will help you clearly see the duty and wisdom of upholding those fundamental principles which are desired for our civilization and our posterity, such as obedience to law, respect and loyalty to government, tolerance, and unity.
We organized as the Moorish Temple of Science in the year of 1925, and were legally incorporated as a civic organization under the laws of the State of Illinois, November 29th, 1926. The name Moorish Temple of Science changed to the Moorish Science Temple of America, May 1928, in accordance with the legal requirements of the Secretary of the State of Illinois.
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.
A National organization with a Rotarian complexion as it relates to branch Temples became obvious with the increasing number of inquiries from men and women in different sections of the country concerning the purpose of the organization. There are branch Temples in fifteen (15) different states at our peak, in the late-1920’s.
Since the work of the Moorish Science Temple of America was largely religious, the organization has been legally changed to a religious corporation and an affidavit to this effect has been properly filed in the Cook County Recorders office in Illinois.
THE VOICE OF THE PROPHET NOBLE DREW ALI
Below, you will find a seven-week comprehensive program that represents our membership orientation. It provides our new members with a foundational understanding of what it means to be a member of this Divine and National Movement.
| Week 1 | PROPHET NOBLE DREW ALI | Types of Prophets, Islam in America, LifeWorks & Teachings of Prophet Noble Drew Ali |
| Week 2 | STRUCTURE OF THE MSTA | Timeline During the Prophet, Our Theocratic Government — The Moorish Divine and National Movement |
| Week 3 | DIVINE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS | A Breakdown of Our Free National Constitution |
| Week 4 | NATIONALITY & IDENTIFICATION CARD | A Breakdown of Our Nationality & Identification Card |
| Week 5 | DIVINE CREED | Our Divine & National Principles |
| Week 6 | ADOPTING THE CORPORATE PHILOSOPHY | What it means to be part and partial to this said Government |
| Week 7 | MAKING ONES CONDITION BETTER | Putting our New-found Knowledge into practice; i.e. “Nation-Building” |
Days of Observance:
- Prophet Noble Drew Ali’s Birthday – January 8th (Eid Ali) is celebrated by gift giving and fellowship, similar to Christmas.
- Moorish New Year – January 15th, seven days after Prophet Noble Drew Ali’s birthday.
- Moorish Tag Day– March 17th consists of the celebration of LOVE, LIFE EVERLASTING, and PEACE and UNITY AMONG MOORISH-AMERICANS
- Mawlid – Refers to the birth of the Prophet Mohammed and is celebrated on the eleventh day of the third Muslim month called Rabi’al-awwal.
- Ramadan– The 9th month of the Islamic Calendar is our month of Fasting (for 30 days).
- Moorish American Memorial Day / Authority Day – July 20th is the day that our Illustrious Prophet veiled his form and left this earth plane.
- Marcus Garvey’s Birthday– August 17th is the day that the Harbinger of the Prophet was born.
- Moorish National Conclave (Minor pilgrimage to Chicago, IL), every September 15th – 20th
- Moorish Independence Day – October 17th is the day that the Holy Prophet Noble Drew Ali declared us a Nation. It is also when he enacted the third branch of our Free National Government which is the Supreme Grand Council, our Judicial Branch.
