The Muslim Program is the official Nation of Islam platform written by Elijah Muhammad in his book "Message to the Blackman in America" (1965). It is published in every issue of the NOI's newspaper, "The Final Call." The platform is divided into two sections: "What the Muslims Want" and "What the Muslims Believe."[1]
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The official statement of what Muslims want, according to the Nation of Islam is a ten part series of statements. The list ranges from a demand for "full and complete freedom"[1] to the demand of a separate state for Blacks. NOI states its desire for freedom of all Believers of Islam held in federal prisons and any black man or woman currently on death row. NOI also advocates for separate schooling for boys and girls and the prohibition of interracial marriage.[1]
The NOI statement of beliefs includes their belief in Allah and the Qur'an. It states their belief in the Bible, but they contest falsehoods that have been added. They state that Allah (God) appeared in the Person of their founder, W. Fard Muhammad, who was the "Messiah" of the Christians and the "Mahdi" of the Muslims.[1]
They also believe in the mental resurrection of the dead, and that the Black man will be resurrected first because they are God's chosen people.[2]
A November 2011 ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana state prisons may not bar inmates from receiving copies of "The Final Call." In their ruling the court stated that "The Muslim Program" is not free of racially inflamatory language, but that the entire paper could not be banned based on the inclusion of one page of principles.[3]