Short answer
No. The Nation of Islam is an American movement founded in 1930 whose founding teachings differ from Islam on core beliefs: it taught that God appeared in a human being and that a messenger came after Muhammad ﷺ. Sunni Islam holds both beliefs are outside Islam, while respecting its members. Many of its followers later embraced mainstream Sunni Islam.
Sunni creed holds that Allah does not take human form or dwell in any person, and that no prophet or messenger comes after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Belief in either contradicts the Quran, so these teachings are outside Islam. Judging a particular person is for scholars, and anyone who accepts the shahada with its true meaning is welcomed as a Muslim.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Nation of Islam began in Detroit in 1930. Its founding teachings held that its founder, W. D. Fard, was God in person, that Elijah Muhammad was the messenger of Allah, and a set of ideas about race that have no source in the Quran or the Sunnah.
Islam teaches something very different. Allah is One and "there is nothing like unto Him" (42:11); He does not become a man. Muhammad ﷺ is "the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets" (33:40), and the Prophet ﷺ compared himself to the final brick that completes a building. And no race is better than another: "the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you" (49:13).
The movement played a large part in the history of Black Americans, and many people first heard of Islam through it. Malcolm X left it and embraced Sunni Islam, writing about the brotherhood he saw on Hajj in 1964. In 1975 Warith Deen Mohammed, the son of Elijah Muhammad, led most of its members into mainstream Sunni Islam. A smaller group later re-formed under the old name.
If you come from a Nation of Islam background, the step is simple: say the shahada with its true meaning and learn the basics. Read how to convert to Islam and our new Muslim guide.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:40
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا ﴿٤٠﴾
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.
Shows no prophet or messenger comes after Muhammad ﷺ.
Quran, Surah Ash-Shura 42:11
فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌۭ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ﴿١١﴾
[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
Rules out Allah appearing as a human being.
Quran, Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:13
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ ﴿١٣﴾
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.
Shows that no race is above another.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3535
Sahih... فَأَنَا اللَّبِنَةُ، وَأَنَا خَاتِمُ النَّبِيِّينَ ...
"I am that brick, and I am the seal of the prophets."
Confirms that prophethood ended with Muhammad ﷺ.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya, Section on the Prophet Muhammad as the seal of the prophets. States that every claim to prophethood after him is error and desire.
- al-Fiqh al-Akbar (Imam Abu Hanifa), Section on the attributes of Allah. Affirms that Allah resembles nothing in His creation.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.