Starry Crown: A Chicago Muslim Story

American Islamic College’s Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter and the Chicago History Museum invite you to a celebration of two intertwined Chicago Muslim stories: Dr. Shakeela Hassan and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, two lives that became forever connected after their first encounter in the summer of 1956 in Chicago. Please come for a rich program to commemorate the transfer of stewardship of the Honourable Elijah Muhammad’s “Starry Crown” from Dr. Shakeela’s keeping to the Chicago History Museum, where it will be safeguarded, treasured, and displayed for generations to come.

Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Venue: American Islamic College – Auditorium
Parking: Limited parking on-site/street parking on Irving Park Rd.

Free & Open to the Public; Registration Required

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Ceremonial procession and light refreshments to follow

American Islamic College’s Hassan Institute for Interfaith Encounter and the Chicago History Museum invite you to commemorate two intertwined Chicago Muslim stories that have made an enduring impact on Chicago’s Muslim community and the city as a whole.

On this special occasion, being the birthday of the Honourable Elijah Muhammad and the slightly belated birthday of Dr. Shakeela Hassan, who’s birthday is just one day before, we honor the deep relationship between the Muhammad and Hassan families in the artifact that has come to be known as the “Starry Crown.”

The iconic image of Honourable Elijah Muhammad adorning a velvet cap with quintessential Islamic moon and star imagery became a standard feature starting in 1961, when he first wore the “fez” designed by Dr. Shakeela Hassan at the Chicago International Amphitheater. Their story begins when she met her future husband, Dr. Mohamed Zia Hassan, after her arrival from Hyderabad, British India, in July 1956. She had come to Chicago for her post-graduate medical training at Northwestern University. Dr. Zia Hassan, a graduate student at the time, immediately introduced her to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and his wife, Sister Clara Muhammad, in the third week of August 1956. It did not take long for Dr. Shakeela to consider “brother” Elijah, “sister” Clara, and their family her family.

In 1960, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad remarked that he wanted to enliven his wardrobe. Dr. Shakeela recalled saying “I am thinking about a cap for you.” She sketched a Fez design that included a crescent and star motif inspired by the flags of Pakistan and Turkey and patterns of Islamic art and architecture. Dr. Shakeela then bought the fabric from Marshall Field & Co.’s flagship store in Chicago, sketched a prototype design, and sent it to Lahore, Pakistan, to be sewn on luxurious silky velvet with zari embroidery. Zari is the intricate art of weaving gold and silver metallic threads by hand in South Asian dress. Sometimes calling Dr. Shakeela’s gift a “Starry Crown,” the Honourable Elijah Muhammad frequently appeared wearing the fez ever after, making the Starry Crown a symbol of the leader of the Nation of Islam.

Join us as we celebrate this incredible Chicago story.

Chicago History Museum: CHM’s mission—to serve as the primary destination for learning, inspiration, and civic engagement to connect people to Chicago’s history and each other—is the foundation of the Museum’s programs and events, exhibitions, educational initiatives, publications, and collecting activities that touch the lives of all Chicagoans.

The Hassan Institute serves and enables meaningful, life-changing inter and intra-religious encounters across the city of Chicago and beyond. The scope of the Hassan Institute’s vision and activism includes public programs all for the promotion of transformative encounters between diverse believers and faith communities.