Elijah Muhammad was born Elijah Poole on or about October 7, 1897, in Rual, Georgia. He was one of 13 children, and was forced to quit school in the third grade to help feed his family.

In the early 20's, Poole started a family with Clara Evans, also from Georgia. In 1923 he moved his young family from Macon, Georgia to Detroit, Michigan. He was part of the great migration north, when thousands of Negroes left the South in hopes of finding a better future.

In 1930, Elijah Poole first heard Master W. Fard Muhammad speak. He preached that it was time for the Black man to return to the religion of his ancestors, Islam. Poole became a Muslim. He became deeply involved in the Temple of Islam, and was promoted to "Supreme Minister" and given the name Muhammad.

His teacher Master Fard left Detroit, leaving Muhammad to build and lead this new flock. Muhammad led the Nation of Islam until his death in 1975.