Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 13, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Everyday Life • Religion

Yakub (Nation of Islam)

Yakub, also spelled Yacub or Yaqub, is a figure in the mythology of the Nation of Islam and related offshoots.

Updated September 13, 20261 min readCited sources

Yakub is a mythological figure in Nation of Islam doctrine. He is said to have created the white race through selective breeding.

What it is

Yakub (also spelled Yacub or Yaqub) appears in the cosmology of the Nation of Islam as a black scientist from Mecca. The story is a religious teaching that explains the origin of racial difference, but it is not supported by mainstream historical or scientific evidence.

Key details of the narrative

According to NOI doctrine, Yakub lived about 6,600 years ago and discovered a law of attraction and repulsion. He used selective breeding (called 'grafting') on the island of Patmos to create the white race over many generations, and his followers continued the process after his death at age 150.

Reception and context

The Yakub story has been controversial because it presents a racial creation narrative rejected outside the Nation of Islam. It is commonly discussed in the context of NOI beliefs, Malcolm X's writings, and critiques of the movement. Mainstream scholarship treats it as mythology.

In short

  • Figure in Nation of Islam theology
  • Described as a black Meccan scientist
  • Created white race via 'grafting' (selective breeding)
  • Story is mythology, not historical fact
Canadian angle

The topic is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through the study of religion, race, and African diaspora religious movements. It may also come up in discussions of Islam in Canada and the history of the Nation of Islam’s influence.

Quick questions

Who is Yakub in the Nation of Islam?
Yakub is a mythological figure in NOI teaching, described as the scientist who created the white race.
Is Yakub considered a historical person?
No verified historical evidence supports Yakub as a real person; the account is part of NOI mythology.
How is Yakub said to have created white people?
The doctrine says he used selective breeding, often called 'grafting,' over many generations.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_(Nation_of_Islam)
    Supports: Core description of Yakub in Nation of Islam doctrine, including the black Meccan scientist narrative, Patmos setting, grafting, and age at death.
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_(Nation_of_Islam)
    Supports: Alternative spelling, identification of Yakub as a figure in NOI beliefs, and the association with Jacob/Yaqub.
  3. Wikipedia — https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_(Nation_of_Islam)
    Supports: Summary of the doctrine, including selective breeding, Patmos, and the note that the story lacks historical and scientific evidence.
  4. Columbia University — https://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/mmt/mxp/people/728.html
    Supports: Description of Yakub in NOI teachings, including the 'big-headed black scientist' account and the selective breeding narrative.