Noble Drew Ali

Noble Drew Ali (January 8, 1886 – July 20, 1929; possibly born Timothy or Thomas Drew) was an American civil and religious leader who, in the early 20th century, founded a series of organizations that he ultimately placed under the umbrella title, the Moorish Divine and National Movement of the World; including the Canaanite Temple (1913–1916), the Moorish Holy Temple of Science (1925–1928), and the Moorish Science Temple of America (1928 onwards). Considered a Surah An-Nahl style prophet by his followers, he founded the Canaanite Temple in 1913 while living in Newark, New Jersey. From there, he made his way westward and eventually settled in Chicago between 1922 and 1925. Upon reaching Chicago, his movement would gain thousands of converts under his instruction. Upon the murder of a rival Moorish Science Temple leader, Drew Ali was arrested (but never charged) and sent to jail; he died on July 20, 1929, shortly after being released.

It is traditionally held that Drew Ali founded the first officially state-registered Islamic organization in U.S. history, and was the first American-born Islamic religious leader. Although the Moorish Science Temple of America has largely declined, Drew Ali's legacy is significant because of its influence on the founding and ideology of the Nation of Islam.