Amin Shabazz Speaks

The Name Shabazz: Where Did It Come From?

2006-10-13T07:26:00Z

The Name Shabazz:
Where Did It Come From?

Probably most people first learned of the name Shabazz as a designation for the African-American people through a reference to it in The Autobiography of Malcolm X, where Malcolm, in the middle of a discussion on Elijah Muhammad's racial doctrine, says: "One of the scientists, at odds with the rest, created the especially strong black tribe of Shabazz, from which America's Negroes, so-called, descend." The name gained further currency when Malcolm adopted it during his Hajj as part of his new Islamic name: El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. To this day, it is used as a surname by many African-American Muslims.

One of the lengthiest published expositions on the mythology of the "tribe of Shabazz" is in Elijah Muhammad's book Message to the Blackman in America, in the chapter "Original man, know thyself":

[God] has declared that we are descendants of the Asian black nation and of the tribe of Shabazz. . . . Originally they were the tribe that came with the earth (or this part) 60 trillion years ago when a great explosion on our planet divided it into two parts. One we call the earth and the other the moon.

We, the tribe of Shabazz, says Allah (God), were the first to discover the best part of our planet to live on. The rich Nile Valley of Egypt and the present seat of the Holy City, Mecca, Arabia. . . . We are the mighty, the wise, the best, but we do not know it. [emphasis added].

Despite the continuing popularity of the name Shabazz, which by now has become independent of Elijah Muhammad's mythology, no authorities on the Nation of Islam have offered any convincing explanation of the name's origin. Was it simply invented, two meaningless syllables that have an appealing sound? (Words that contain the sounds sh and z have been popular with American fantasists: consider the name Shiz from the Book of Mormon, and the magic word shazam of comic book fame). Or is it derived from some existing word or words in an actual language? It should be worthwhile, especially for those who hold this name, to determine its derivation and meaning.

Some have suggested that Shabazz comes from the Old Testament, but I found nothing there that really resembles it. There is a Sheshbazzar, "Prince of Judah," in Ezra 1:8, but it is the name of an individual, not a tribe, and the difference in form between Shabazz and Sheshbazzar is too great. Another name there is Shethar-Boznai (Ezra 6:6), but it is even less likely.

Urdu-speaking Muslims from South Asia who come to America and encounter the name Shabazz see in it an obvious resemblance to the Persian name Shahbâz, a popular given name among Indian and Pakistani Muslims. Lâl Shahbâz Qalandar, of thirteenth century Sindh, is one of the most beloved saints of Pakistan. Shahbâz is Persian for 'royal falcon', so it carries a connotation of pride and nobility. For this reason, Indians and Pakistanis in America assume that Shabazz is really Shahbâz, Americanized.

This opinion might seem to be strengthened by the fact that some of the da‘wah to African-Americans in the early years of the twentieth century was done by Urdu- and Panjabi-speaking Ahmadis/Qadiyanis, beginning in 1921. This early Indian influence, which may have introduced some quasi-Islamic ideas into Marcus Garvey's movement, formed part of the religious background when Noble Drew Ali was running the Moorish Science Temple for the "Asiatic" black race, one of the direct forerunners of the Nation of Islam (and which was also a successor of Garveyism: "Up, you mighty race..."). However, it is doubtful that this line of speculation could lead to a satisfactory derivation for Shabazz, despite the close phonetic similarity. We would need to document the actual transference of the name Shahbâz to African-Americans by Indian immigrants. In the absence of such evidence, it would make more sense to look for an Arabic derivation, and one that is semantically closer to the mark, considering what is known about the sources of Elijah Muhammad's doctrine.

First of all, the likely semantic import of the name, and thus the purpose it was intended to serve, cannot be ignored. When giving a name, it is important to select one with the right meaning, as Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught. The meaning of one's name contributes an important component of one's self-image and it must accord with one's chosen identity. Elijah Muhammad's mission among African-Americans was to uplift them from their state of misery and degradation, to which four centuries of racist oppression had reduced them. He effected a thorough transformation of their self-image, and he needed to rename them so as to remind them of their past greatness, their superior status among the peoples of the world. Their voices could then be heard to ring with pride when they identified themselves with the tribe of Shabazz.

It is difficult to say how much of Elijah Muhammad's teaching was his own invention and how much came from Master W. D. Fard, whom Elijah called "Allah" or "God." Still the basic outlines of the "Lost-Found Nation," tribe of Shabazz mythology are known to have originally been Fard's contribution. The most mysterious figure in all the modern history of religions, he carried out his mission to the African-American people in Detroit from 1930 to 1934. He lived and preached among the most downtrodden levels of society, in a milieu almost completely overlooked by the official recorders of history, so that he could disappear as mysteriously as he appeared. His real background cannot be discerned within the mists of his self-mythologizing. Harold J. Bloom wrote in The American Religion: "So far as I know, there is still no certain identification for Fard, whether as to his nationality, race, background, education, or even his age." Whether he actually came from Mecca, as he claimed, cannot be verified, but two extant photographs show him to have been Middle Eastern in appearance. Karl Evanzz presented evidence in The Judas Factor that Fard came from New Zealand and was half-Maori, but all other theories about his identity have to do with him being of Middle Eastern origin. He does seem to have been better acquainted with Islam than one would expect from a New Zealander. He came in the guise of a Syrian peddler, a common sight on the street in those days. Thus it is likely that he knew Arabic, and the obvious place to search for the derivation of the name Shabazz is in Arabic.

One immediately runs up against the fact that no word can be found in any Arabic lexicon, classical or modern, derived from the root sh-b-z. There is no such root used in any Arabic word.

I admit to having remained puzzled for years over question of how Shabazz could have come from Arabic. The clue that led to the solution was the final doubled z (the Persian word shahbâz ends in a single z). Why was the Shabazz z doubled? Generally, in Arabic morphology (except for the derived pattern if‘alla), a final consonant is doubled only when it belongs to a geminated root, i.e. one in which the second and third letters are the same, as in hajj (<H-j-j) or shaddah (<sh-d-d). Four-letter roots, however, are not geminated in this fashion. Then it occurred to me, might this be a compound of two words? In that case, the name would divide into shab + azz.

There is no equivalent in the Roman alphabet for the Arabic letter ‘ayn. Careful writers represent it with a left-handed apostrophe, but it is commonly omitted. If we supply two missing ‘ayns to these two syllables, we get two genuine Arabic words sha‘b meaning 'a people' and ‘azz, a verb meaning 'to be mighty and glorious'. Thus sha‘b ‘azz clearly means in Arabic 'a people mighty and glorious', which carries exactly the meaning that W. D. Fard and Elijah Muhammad wanted to convey. Since the intended meaning, the form of the name, and its Arabic derivation all fit well together, we may conclude that the origin of the name Shabazz is now known.

Summer update

2006-08-06T17:29:00Z

Peace.

This summer has been one of excitement and wonderful progress. Thanks to everyone who came out to support me and listen to the Language of Music. This project has seen me blessed in many, many ways. I have witnessed both ends of the spectrum and I hope to continue doing my thing, my way. I never sold out, and I am successful by GOD's grace and permission.

I hope to see you in the future.

Keep it funky.

Peace.

Amin wraps up first month at Sophia

2006-06-04T19:38:00Z

Peace.

I've been very busy this month, gigging at Sophia every Tuesday and Thursday. I was blessed to enjoying seeing my family, as well as Legendary Football player Carl Eller and Stray Cat Brian Selzer in the audience. It has been really fun holdin' it down completely on my own. The knowledge that I can accomplish this much alone is very assuring. I have been warmly recieved and welcomed to continue.

I hope to see you there.

Peace.

Amin does Sophia's

2006-05-17T18:00:00Z

Peace.

I performed at Sophia's for the first time May 11th, 2006. I was so well received that I was immediately asked to perform for Mother's Day, May 14th and every Tuesday & Thursday thereafter.

Come check me out...

Sophia's

2006-05-07T18:37:00Z

I will be perfoming regularly at Sophia's Restaurant, downtown Minneapolis every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm to Midnight. I hope to see you there.

Amin Shabazz & Legato rock the Calhoun Beach Club

2006-05-07T18:24:00Z

I hooked up with the band Legato for a Cinco DeMayo gig at the Calhoun Beach Club. The three hour jam was well received. We played originals all night long from both our CD's. We had a great time. I will be flying out to Los Angeles to gig with Legato in their city, next time.

The History of Hip-Hop Culture

2006-03-13T15:51:00Z

Greetings of peace and contentment.

Last year, I was asked to expound on the History of Hip-Hop Culture, following a visit by Jeff Chang (author of the book Can't Stop Won't Stop). I spoke to a body of students undertaking the study of music. They were very impressed to learn an aspect of Hip-Hop that they were totally unaware of. As a result of the positive reception I received from these students, I figured that I should give to you what I gave to them.

Below you will find excepts from my e-book "The History of Hip-Hop Culture". My desire is to inspire you to learn and motivate today's youth to reflect the positive aspects of Hip-Hop culture.

-"What is "Hip-Hop"?

"Hip-Hop is a very distinct Black American sub-culture. "Lovebug Starski" was the first use the phrase "Hip-Hop" in his rhymes. Afrika Bambaataa started calling the movement "Hip-Hop". Space Cowboy said, "Hip Hop, hibba, hibba to the hip hip hop and you don't stop the rockin, to the bang bang boogie say up jumps the boogie, to the rhythm of the boogie to be." Is that Hip-Hop? Yes!!! This song, Rapper's Delight was the first record to use the phrase "Hip-Hop". But there is much more that you were never told about the origin of Hip-Hop culture.

"The music to "Rapper's Delight" was written by Niles Rogers. Most people don't know that he was a dedicated hardcore member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense.

"Let's get into it..."

-"We are here to discuss the history of the Hip-Hop culture, but the origin of the Hip-Hop culture was born from Community Organization for Positive Social Change. The one is born from the other. So you cannot discuss one without the other, as I have often seen done by others in the past. You can't gloss it over to make White people comfortable about Hip-Hop. You have to tell it like it is."

-"How exactly was Hip-Hop conceived?"

"Hip-Hop was born out of the chaos of the 1960's revolutionary movements. We know that the circumstances outside of a mother's womb affect the nature of the life that is growing inside of her womb. So, when our mother "America" missed her period during that decade, she produced a new life for Black America... and that new life has affected the whole earth. Then to truly understand the origin of Hip-Hop, you must study to understand the circumstances surrounding its conception and birth.

"I repeat, since the mother is America, and she missed her period in the 1960's to give us a just life, through social equality, they say a seven month baby has a chance for life... then Hip-Hop's pregnancy, which they tried abort under the number of 6 (1960's), was born under the number seven, in the 1970's; but the baby did not fully mature until it reached the number 9, in 1990 (during the revolutionary period of Hip-Hop culture).

"Even though try tried to kill Hip-Hop, the baby survived. Those of you, who are old enough to remember, can bear me witness; the U.S. Government did not want any Hip-Hop to exist in America.

"To truly understand Hip-Hop, you must study to understand the circumstances surrounding its conception & birth."

From these brief excepts, you can begin to see that this is not the average thesis on the subject of the History of Hip-Hop Culture. My perspective is not as if I were some college student who "hung out" in the ghetto to interview the poor niggers, then stole the information about their life's story and made a fortune off of the hard work of others. I didn't go to college.

No...

I lived the history. Therefore, I am uniquely qualified to speak on it indepth, and from a perspective that few write from. I hope that after reading this subject that you will share your comments on the effects it has on your perception of what I call "today's 'imitation' of true Hip-Hop culture".

Thank you.

The Language of Music and the principles of Cause & Effect

2006-03-05T17:18:00Z

Peace.

I hope this finds you well and in the best of health and spirit.

I want to be as plain as possible when dealing with this kind of subject. So I will deal with it from the essence of my perspective. I want to be able to open a discussion on the relevance of the messages conveyed in today's music, and the effects they have on the future. If time travel is possible through the consequence of actions, then what we do today will affect tomorrow. So, it behooves us to take a deep and long look at the future that we are creating with the music we produce.

What kind of reality are you living in? What kind of control do you exercise over your circumference? Do you control what you internalize? Once you have internalized outside material, how do you purify yourself from its negative effects? Let's walk through consciousness and conscientious thought, as we unveil intentions and motives of the music listeners and music makers.

Most people desire to live the highest manifestation of existence possible. Yet few people actually achieve this. Again, it behooves us to examine this aspect of communicative vibration that we call Music.