Beyond Bilal

Beyond Bilāl: Black History in Islam explores the profound and often-overlooked connection between Islam and Black history, revealing the pivotal role of Black Muslims across centuries and continents. This revised edition brings together Mustafa Briggs' acclaimed lecture series, including Beyond Bilāl: Black History in Islam, Before Malcolm X: The History of Islam in the Americas, Daughters of Fatima: Female Scholarship in the Islamic Tradition, Africans in Asia: The Hidden Legacy of Black Muslims in the East, and Black History in the Arab World-presented at over 50 universities across three continents, including Harvard, Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge.

Explore the profound history of Black Muslims, from the Black Prophets and prominent figures in the Qurʾān to the often-overlooked Black Ṣaḥābah and scholars who shaped the foundation of early Islamic thought. This book traces Islām's journey through powerful African empires such as Ghana, Mali and Songhai, highlights the reign of Black emperors in India and Bangladesh, and examines the influence of African Muslims across the Arab world and even as far as the Americas, where they may have arrived long before Columbus. Through the lives and achievements of Black Muslim warriors, saints, poets, and intellectuals, Beyond Bilāl illuminates the vital contributions of Black Muslims and their enduring legacy on the international relations and cultural tapestry of the Muslim world. Briggs presents this history as an accessible and open conversation, following the tradition of classical African scholarship. By breaking down academic barriers, Beyond Bilāl invites readers to rediscover and celebrate the diverse and enduring contributions of Black Muslims across time and place, bridging the past with the present.