Character Analysis
If we didn't know better, we'd say that this guy was Malcolm's dad. Or at least his long-lost brother. He's light-skinned, went to jail, and lacks formal education just like Malcolm. No wonder Malcolm looks up to him.
Malcolm X puts Elijah Muhammad up on an unreachable pedestal, and he's completely surprised when Mr. Muhammad comes tumbling down.
On A Pedestal
The Hon. Elijah Muhammad is the leader and founder of the Nation of Islam. He is also considered to be Allah. So it's kind of an understatement to say that he's pretty important. To members of the Nation of Islam, he is the most important human being that could ever exist.
When you think about it this way, it's no surprise that Malcolm worships the guy. And he's not the only one. This is how the members of the Nation of Islam greet Elijah Muhammad:
"My black brothers and sisters, you have come from your homes to hear—now you are going to hear—America's wisest black man! America's boldest black man! America's most fearless black man! This wilderness of North America's most powerful black man!" Mr. Muhammad would come quickly to the stand, looking out over the vacuum-quiet audience, his gentle-looking face set, for just a fleeting moment. Then, "As-Salaikum-Salaam-'' "WA-ALAIKUM-SALAAM!" (14.102)
You would never guess that he was an aging hypocritical asthmatic based on that reception. In this moment, he seems to be the greatest black person that has ever lived.
And no one could worship Elijah Muhammad more than Malcolm. Malcolm doesn't even want the guy to do volunteer work because he's too precious. Elijah Muhammad is Malcolm's Socrates, his Aristotle, and his Gandalf.
Why? Because Malcolm X attributes his radical life change from a thug into one of the most recognizable names of the Civil Rights era to Mr. Muhammad. Basically, he feels that he owes his life to this guy. Notice that Malcolm X never says anything bad about Mr. Muhammad. He only says what he understands is the truth, and even then he says it reluctantly.
But Mr. Muhammad is not as perfect as he seems.
Broken Pedestal
The Nation of Islam has some pretty strict rules about sexuality. They skip right past abstinence and advocate sex only for the purpose of making children even between married couples. Considering how much people tend to like sex, it's no surprise that many members of the Nation of Islam end up kicked out or at least shunned by the organization. Who gets to make that decision? Elijah Muhammad.
So imagine how terrible and hypocritical it must have seemed when members of the Nation of Islam learned Mr. Muhammad had fathered not one, but several children out of wedlock. As far as betrayals go, this seems pretty epic.
But that's not the only thing. When Malcolm X goes to talk to the woman who had affairs with Mr. Muhammad, he hears something even worse. He writes:
From their own mouths, I heard their stories of who had fathered their children. And from their own mouths I heard that Elijah Muhammad had told them I was the best, the greatest minister he ever had, but that someday I would leave him, turn against him—so I was "dangerous." I learned from these former secretaries of Mr. Muhammad that while he was praising me to my face, he was tearing me apart behind my back. (16.52)
Not only is his idol a charlatan, but he's also trying to destroy him! Imagine how you would feel if you were Malcolm.
That totally sucks, but once again Elijah Muhammad proves himself to be an important part of Malcolm X's life story. The first time was significantly more positive, but even this negative influence is significant. On his pedestal, Elijah Muhammad got Malcolm X off the streets. Off of it, he pushes Malcolm towards a deeper understanding of Islam and a more active approach to gaining rights for black people.
Of course, there is a final influence on Malcolm X's life that is not mentioned in the book. Elijah Muhammad is also responsible, at least indirectly, for Malcolm X's death. So we can truly say that this man has had more impact on him than any other person in his whole life.