Since 1935, Chicago, Illinois has served as the national headquarters of the Nation of Islam. The home at 4847 South Woodlawn was Elijah Muhammad’s personal residence from 1952 to 1972 and the Nation’s organizational headquarters until his death in 1975.
Urban historic preservationist, real estate developer, and entrepreneur Sister Sajdah Wendy Muhammad is restoring the building—now known as the “Sajdah House” or “Elijah Muhammad House Museum”—into a cultural center and museum dedicated to the history of the Nation of Islam and Black entrepreneurship.
While “Sajdah House” reflects its owner’s name, the word carries deeper meaning: Arabic for prostration—the act of bowing in submission to God. It marks the site as one of both spiritual and historical significance.
Now recognized by the Illinois Historic Preservation Society, the Sajdah House is open to the public. Its placement on the national registry was confirmed on October 7, 2021—the birth date of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Sister Sajdah envisions it as a house museum where visitors can engage with his legacy through place-based education.
