Nation of Islam Mosques

Curated by JeNiece Freeman-Holt, Becca Tresnak, Demarius Similton

The Nation of Islam has been prevalent in the Lansing community since the early 1960s, when Mosque no. 16 opened at the corner of Main and Division. At this time, Philbert Little became the minister of the Lansing Mosque and Malcolm X was ministering in Harlem at temple no. 7. Mosque No. 16 moved to Philbert's house in 1964, until it was closed down. Sometime in 1975, local members of the Nation of Islam decided to reopen the Mosque at 235 Lahoma street. Soon after, Elijah Muhammad died and his son Wallace D Muhammad became his successor.

Wallace pushed his followers towards a more racially tolerant form of Islam. This led to a split in the movement and the Lansing Mosque lost many members. Shortly after, the Mosque was renamed to the Wali Mahmoud Islamic Center and it still stands on Lahoma street today.

First location of Nation of Islam Temple No. 16

In the early 1960s, the Nation of Islam Mosque No 16 opened on the second floor of a building at the corner of Main and Division in Lansing, MI. Malcolm X's brother, Philbert X (formerly Little), was the minister. At this time Malcolm was in Harlem…

Second Location of Temple No. 16/ Philbert X (Little)'s House

In 1964, the Nation of Islam Mosque No. 16 moved to Philbert X (Little)'s house at 408 S. Butler Blvd. in Lansing, MI. The mosque was only in this location for a short time until it was closed down. The building has since been torn down (Evolution of…

Wali Mahmoud Islamic Center/ Nation of Islam Temple No. 16

At 235 Lahoma Street in Lansing, MI stands a small white building. It’s in a neighborhood with some beat up houses but others very well kept. It has new white siding all along each side of the house and blends into the neighborhood, all except for a…