White Muslims?

Since its birth during the Depression, the Nation of Islam, better known as the Black Muslims, has preached that whites were "devils" and "human beasts." Not any longer: from now on whites will be considered fully human.

The movement's ideas about black separatism and supremacy gathered some momentum during the late 1960s. But times change, and the Muslims' autocratic messiah, Elijah Muhammad, adopted a softer line before his death in February at 77. Last week, at a mass rally of 12,000 of the faithful at Chicago's McCormick Place, Elijah's son and successor, Wallace D. Muhammad, made it official: the race-hatred theme is being shelved. Whites will even be permitted to join the sect, though no rush of recruits is expected. Said Wallace: "We have caught hell from the white man for 400 years, but we have grown to where if the white man respects us, we will respect him."

Brain Trust. Reporting on his first 100 days as leader, Wallace, 41, spoke for 3 1/2 hours while protected by a phalanx of 100 Muslim guards. To underscore the new tolerant line, the Muslims had invited a host of white civic and church leaders to the rally, although few showed up. Since Wallace's speech included several appeals for white money, the Muslims' new liberalism may have as much to do with finances as social enlightenment.

Race aside, the post-Elijah Muslims are in for some changes. Wallace announced plans to form a brain trust of Muslim leaders across the country to seek solutions to social ills, a scholarship program for high school youths, and a center to treat mental illness. He has also appointed the movement's first woman minister. While maintaining traditional Muslim secrecy about overall membership (estimated at between 50,000 and 100,000, though higher figures are often used), Wallace revealed the dollar dimensions of Elijah's legacy: the Muslims have investments of $14.5 million in Chicago property and $6.2 million in farm land, while their stores, restaurants and other ventures pay $1.5 million annually in taxes. These are substantial amounts, but below previous guesses.

Wallace Muhammad's apprenticeship was uneasy. He quarreled with his father and twice dropped out of the movement. Moreover, he does not have his father's compelling personal force. But so far, at least, he appears to be holding off the fierce power struggle that had been widely expected to follow Elijah's passing. Certainly, Muslim Spokesman Abdul Haleem (Louis) Farrakhan, the most charismatic figure in the movement today, is at pains to dispel rumors that he was moved from his potent Harlem base to the sect's Chicago headquarters so that Wallace could keep a closer eye on him. At last week's rally, Farrakhan was full of praise for the new messiah. "No other man holds the key to divinity," he said. "There is no one wise enough to approach the shoelaces of Wallace D. Muhammad."

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