NOI Local History

It is reported by some of the Elders of The Nation of Islam that the seeds of Islam were planted in the City of Chester by The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad himself while he was on the run from the enemies of Islam.  He visited the areas now known as the William Penn Projects before they were built and the famous Bethel Court in the 1940’s. The establishment of Muhammad Temple of Islam in Chester, supported by the Philadelphia temple, began around 1954 at 3rd & Jeffrey/Yarnall Streets. During the 1950s, Wallace D. Muhammad served as Minister of Philadelphia and frequently visited Chester, hosting Unity Meetings with notable guests such as Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. Over the next two decades Islam in Chester continued to grow making converts and affecting the community at large. In the 1970’s, the Muhammad Temple of Chester impacted many young Brothers and Sisters to become members of the Nation of Islam.  The Temple’s final location at  19 West 3rd Street, continued to progress until the departure of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1975.

After 1975, Muhammad’s Temple in Chester transitioned, and ultimately became two masjids: Masjid As-Sabiqun and Masjid Mustaqeem. One Brother of note, James 6X, continued teaching children in the William Penn Projects the lessons of Elijah Muhammad and rewarded them with candy for reciting their Student Enrollment Lessons. As The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan began working to revive the teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Brother Harold 7X (Harold Muhammad), May Allah Be Pleased with him, began recruiting interested brothers and sisters. The believers mobilized and assembled for our first meeting at the home of Sister Barbara Muhammad (Queen of Cuisine) at 2416 Peoples Street in September of 1978

The Believers of Chester worked diligently to help The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan re-establish the teaching of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and their efforts produced 2 meetings in the City of Chester with The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: August 10, 1980, “A Day of Unity” at the Chester High School Auditorium. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan returned again on his second visit to Chester on September 13, 1981 entitled, ‘The Time and What Must Be Done, The Rebirth of A Nation.” The believers also established “Shabazz Restaurant”, located at 520 Edgmont Avenue. Through trials and tribulations and the continue expanding work of the rebuilding, Brother Harold moved on to Baltimore, Md. To assist in helping Muhammad Temple #6.  He was followed in the ministry by many dedicated brothers, including, Brother Robert Muhammad, Brother Lamount Muhammad, Brother Curtis 2 (Broadax) Muhammad, Philadelphia and Brother Curtiss (Bunch) Muhammad, Chester.