# what is a 5%er? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452 "2004-10-10T06:38:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/1 "2004-10-10T06:38:03Z")
I’ve recently heard this expression used in relation to Islam. Does anyone have any idea what it means? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/2 "2004-10-10T06:49:17Z")
I’ve never heard the term but it’s probably the 5% of muslims who act (or supposedly act) a certain way. Maybe it’s a fundamentalist? I know a 1%er is a biker who lives outside the law. ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/3 "2004-10-10T06:51:31Z")
Yes i believe it had something to do with how only 5% of people live a certain way or do a certain thing. The context of the argument in which it was used is really weird though. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/4 "2004-10-10T06:55:17Z")
From [here](http://answering-islam.org.uk/Index/F/five_percenters.html) and other substantially similar articles: > [@](#): > > The term “Five Percent” originated in the 1930’s with Elijah Muhammad and Fard Muhammad. These men produced a series of “lessons” which consisted of 122 questions and answers which were asked by Elijah Muhammad and answered by Fard Muhammad. One of the questions was: “Who are the 5%?” The answer was that the “5%” were a group of people who knew and understood the “true” knowledge of God and were also called the “Poor Righteous Teachers.” > > Smith believed and taught that 85 percent of the population are deceived, 10 percent are the oppressors [or devils] who know the truth but refuse to accept it. The remaining 5% are those who know the truth, and their mission is to teach and guide the ignorant 85%. The group became known as the “Five Percent Nation of Islam” and they currently call themselves “The Nation of Gods and Earths.” Apparently, they annoy many mainstream Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/5 "2004-10-10T14:07:49Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Apparently, they annoy many mainstream Muslims. To put it mildly! Muslims find the Nation of Islam pretty much blasphemous. The oddest thing about NoI is that it appears to have grown out of African-American Shriners organizations, who basically began taking the Islamic trappings of the “Mosques” too seriously and spun a theology around that and black nationalism. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/6 "2004-10-10T15:35:33Z")
I worked with a fella from N.J. back in '95 who claimed to be a “5%” Muslim. He drank liquor (borderline alcoholic), ate pork breakfast, lunch and dinner, and ran the streets at night like a Dog. I asked him once how he could be a Muslim and do all of that stuff, and he swelled up all proud and said, “I’m a 5%!” At my blank look, he elaborated, “We’re already right with Allah; we’ve got the word already, and our entrance to Paradise is assured, so we can do whatever we want!” Uh-huh. Well, I guess it’s not that much difference between that and the Baptist who goes out on Saturday night drinking and raising hell, and then denouncing “them sinnin’ heathens” come Sunday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/7 "2004-10-10T16:02:58Z")
In a shocking coincidence, many 5%ers happen to be popular rappers. Jurassic 5 and the Wu-Tang Clan spring immediately to mind. Shocking, that. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/8 "2004-10-10T16:40:25Z")
It’s a splinter group from the NOI. They maintain that Allah is a man. As proof of this, they cite the letters in the name Allah, which they say stand for “Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head.” ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/9 "2004-10-10T16:41:21Z")
^now that i dont get. i assume you’re being sarcastic, so why is that so not shocking? i’m actually a fan of both and I’m surprised. ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/10 "2004-10-10T17:43:23Z")
er that was meant for ace ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/11 "2004-10-10T22:17:04Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > To put it mildly! Muslims find the Nation of Islam pretty much blasphemous. I would agree with that when it comes to describe the feeling they would provoke if an average Muslim wouold listen to their amazing and yes, for a real Muslim truly blasphemous taechings and ideas. For me this so called Nation of “Islam” is typically one of these amazing religious sects that seem to pup up and flourish like mushrooms in the USA. = NOI has as much to do with Islam as my cat. To clarify: My cat is certainly created by God and being part of the creation, cats have their own way of worshipping the Creator. For me that is where the “connection” between NOI and Islam (or any other religion for that matter) begins and ends. I didn’t do a study on this weird organisation, yet have read a few of their publications and have (to my great amusement and amazement both) visited a few times a message board where they seem to have their own forum. I must say that I find it unbelievable that a political organisation manages to create a mix of Bible and Al Qur’an quotes and in addition adds on all of it their very own specific interpretation, yet then found it needed to abuse the word Islam in the name of their organisation. To give only one example out of so many: Their blatant racism is in itself already completely in contradiction with the teachings of Islam and hence with the message of Al Qur’an and I think the same can safely be said aout the teachings of Christianity and at least the OT. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![pyrrthon1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@pyrrthon1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pyrrthon1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/12 "2004-10-10T22:22:40Z")
As always, I go to the [Urban Dictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=five-percenter&r=s&pos=2) for all my answers. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/13 "2004-10-10T22:28:14Z")
The Nation of Islam was founded in the early 20th century as a specifically black organization and religion. It was not, in any way, associated with Islam, followers of Muhammed (sp?), i.e. Mecca and all that. The central belief of those invovled was that the white race was created by a mad-scientist named Yakub some 6,000 years ago in an evil genetic experiment. The white people were destined to rule over the world, and all the real, original, non-white people for about 6,000 year, after which said original people would gain ascendency. Hence, whites are “blue-eyed devils.” The Nation of Islam was strictly a Black-Supremecist (sp?) group. Five-percenters are those today who strictly adhere to those beliefs. Note: The Nation of Islam was officially recognized, so to speak, when Malcom X was allowed to take the haaj (sp?) to Mecca. It was there that he saw muslims of all races worshiping together and being treated as brothers. It was there that he dropped his black supremecy, and for that he was shot and killed. IIRC, the Nation of Islam is closer to Islam-proper than as originally conceived by Wallace Fard Muhammad. So, to answer the OP directly: Five-percenters are those who believe that black people are the only real people, that whites were created in an evil genetic experiment and are literally non-human devils, who believe that Islam is the natural way for all real people, and that blacks are now due for a period of ascendency where they will rule the world sans the shackles of the blue-eyed devils. Or, they’re just bullshitters trying to act all hard-core. That, I imagine, is where most rappers fall. Wikipedia has a good article on it: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation\_of\_Islam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Islam) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/14 "2004-10-10T22:35:25Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > = NOI has as much to do with Islam as my cat. > To clarify: My cat is certainly created by God and being part of the creation, cats have their own way of worshipping the Creator. > For me that is where the “connection” between NOI and Islam (or any other religion for that matter) begins and ends. I would argue that your cat has slightly more to do with Islam, as , if memory serves, your Prophet used to own one. 😃😃😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/15 "2004-10-10T23:49:08Z")
> [@Jomo Mojo](#): > > It’s a splinter group from the NOI. They maintain that Allah is a man. As proof of this, they cite the letters in the name Allah, which they say stand for “Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head.” …or in the original Arabic, spells out “Allah Is Not An Acronym.” ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/16 "2004-10-11T04:13:07Z")
> [@vinniepaz](#): > > ^now that i dont get. i assume you’re being sarcastic, so why is that so not shocking? i’m actually a fan of both and I’m surprised. Seems like a marketing gimmick to me when it’s used in that context, is all I’m sayin’. YMMV, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/17 "2004-10-11T04:39:30Z")
The Urban Dictionary? You’ve got to be kidding. Half of the entries on any topic are sheer bullshit made up by people who have no idea what the term means (and don’t care). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/18 "2004-10-11T04:45:12Z")
> [@Jomo Mojo](#): > > It’s a splinter group from the NOI. They maintain that Allah is a man. As proof of this, they cite the letters in the name Allah, which they say stand for “Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head.” So… God doesn’t have a torso? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/19 "2004-10-11T05:15:47Z")
The Nation of Gods and Earth is not the same as the Nation of Islam. The Five Percenters broke off from the NOI. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-5-er/268452/20 "2004-10-11T06:42:28Z")
> [@Jomo Mojo](#): > > It’s a splinter group from the NOI. They maintain that Allah is a man. As proof of this, they cite the letters in the name Allah, which they say stand for “Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head.” I absolutely love things like this where translliterated words have some secret meaning. On the other hand, I now know what the Gravediggaz are talking about.