[ Autographs ] Elijah Muhammed 1897-1975 A co-founder of the Nation of Islam, Muhammed was imprisoned from 1941 to 1947 for his opposition to the draft, but after his release he became largely responsible for the growth of the Black Muslim movement in this country. D.S., June 8, 1971, a check drawn on The Honorable Elijah Muhammed's Poor Fund, payable to Illinois Bell Telephone.