The Remarkable Life of Omar Ibn Said: An Enslaved Scholar in America

Omar ibn Said was born in the  1770s in Futa Toro, a region along the Middle Senegal River in what is now modern-day Senegal. He hailed from a prosperous and highly respected Fula family known for their deep Islamic faith and commitment to education. 

Omar was one of many scholars in his lineage, a tradition that deeply influenced his early years. Futa Toro, at the time, was a vibrant center of Islamic learning, part of the larger intellectual landscape of West Africa that included famous centers of scholarship such as Timbuktu. 

From a young age, Omar was immersed in a rigorous educational curriculum. He spent 25 years studying under the guidance of various Islamic scholars, covering subjects as diverse as Islamic theology, mathematics, astronomy, business, and Arabic literature. His education emphasized Quranic studies, combining academic rigor with spiritual instruction. 

Omar memorized the Quran and excelled in Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, and Sufi mysticism. This extensive education distinguished him during his enslavement in America, where his literacy in Arabic and knowledge of Islam provided him with tools for survival and subtle resistance. 

From Capture to the Atlantic: The Journey of Enslavement 

In 1807, Omar’s life took a tragic turn when he was captured during a military conflict, a fate that befell many West Africans during this period of intense regional strife and the transatlantic slave trade. He was forcibly taken from his homeland, shackled, and transported across the Atlantic Ocean under horrific conditions. 

The transatlantic crossing was a harrowing experience, marked by brutal conditions, overcrowding, disease, and severe shortages of food and water. Many enslaved Africans perished during the journey, but Omar survived, though the ordeal left a lasting impact on him. 

Upon arrival in Charleston, South Carolina, Omar was sold into slavery. His first owner subjected him to harsh and inhumane conditions, typical of the brutal reality faced by enslaved people in the American South. 

He mentions in his autobiography “I reside in this country because of great necessity. Wicked men took me by violence and sold me to the Christians. We sailed a month and a half on the great sea to the place called Charleston in the Christian land. I fell into the hands of a small, weak, and wicked man, who feared not God at all, nor did he read (the Gospel) at all nor pray.” The specifics of his life under this first owner remain unclear, but the cruelty he endured was severe enough to drive Omar to escape. However, his escape did not lead to freedom. He was captured in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he was imprisoned. It was during imprisonment that his proficiency in Arabic was discovered, catching the attention of local authorities and leading to his sale to James Owen, a wealthy planter who would later become the Governor of North Carolina. The new owner, who, according to Omar, “does not beat me, nor calls me a bad name, nor subjects me to hunger, nakedness, or hard work.” 

Debate around Omer’s Religious affiliations 

James Owen, unlike many slave owners, recognized Omar’s intellectual abilities and religious devotion. Owen treated Omar with a degree of respect that was unusual in the context of American slavery, providing him with better living conditions and even religious texts, including an English translation of the Quran and, through the efforts of Francis Scott Key, an Arabic translation of the Bible. 

These texts, particularly the Quran, were sources of spiritual sustenance for Omar, allowing him to maintain a connection to his Islamic faith despite the oppressive environment in which he had lived. 

In 1831, Omar authored his autobiography in Arabic, making it the only known work of its kind written by an enslaved person in his native language. Christian ministers often engaged with Omar to discuss their sermons, and he frequently received visitors. 

Remarkably, Omar sat for portraits at least twice and was honored with an obituary in the newspaper upon his death—extraordinary recognition for an enslaved individual. 

In 1820, Omar was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, a moment highlighted by the Owen family and the community as a significant Christian conversion. However, the true nature of Omar’s religious beliefs has been the subject of considerable debate among scholars. While he outwardly conformed to Christianity, many signs suggest that Omar remained a devout Muslim throughout his life. 

His writings, including his autobiography and numerous Arabic manuscripts, are filled with Quranic references and Islamic theological concepts, leading many to believe that his conversion to Christianity was superficial, a strategic move to navigate the dangerous and oppressive environment in which he lived. 

He declined several offers to return to Africa as a missionary, and his Bible contained benedictions to the Prophet Muhammad. Perhaps most tellingly, he transcribed a chapter from the Qur'an in Arabic, which was mistakenly identified as the Lord's Prayer until recently. 

One of the most telling pieces of evidence of Omar’s enduring Islamic faith is found in his Bible, which contains Arabic dedications to the Prophet Muhammad. Additionally, Omar wrote out a chapter from the Quran in Arabic, which was mistakenly identified by others as the Lord’s Prayer. His autobiography, written in 1831 in Arabic, further complicates the narrative of his supposed conversion. 

Omar Ibn Said’s Writings and Islamic Legacy

Omar ibn Said left behind a significant intellectual legacy in the form of 14 Arabic manuscripts, the most famous of which is his 1831 autobiography, The Life of Omar ben Saeed, called Morro, a Fullah Slave in Fayetteville, N.C. Owned by Governor Owen. This document is unique in American history as the only known Arabic-language autobiography written by an enslaved person in the United States. 

While the text appears on the surface to endorse Christian beliefs, it is replete with Quranic references and literary devices that subtly reaffirm his Islamic identity. Scholars have suggested that Omar may have been practicing Taqiya, a form of religious dissimulation permitted in Islam under conditions of extreme duress or persecution, to protect himself in an environment hostile to Islam. 

Omar began his manuscript with the Quranic chapter Surat Al-Mulk, subtly critiquing slavery while reaffirming his faith. His writings go beyond autobiography, including Islamic texts, Quranic chapters, prayers, and letters. Notably, an 1819 letter to Major John Owen, filled with Quranic references and geometric symbols, suggests coded religious expressions. 

His manuscripts are preserved at the Library of Congress, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Davidson College, and Andover Theological Seminary, offering profound insights into the intellectual and spiritual life of Omar ibn Said and the resilience of enslaved African Muslims in America. 

A Lasting Impact on American History 

Omar ibn Said’s life and work have left an indelible mark on American history, particularly in the narrative of enslaved African Muslims. His story challenges the conventional understanding of slavery in America by highlighting the presence and intellectual contributions of Muslim scholars among the enslaved population. 

Despite living much of his life in bondage, Omar’s intellectual legacy continues to inspire scholars and the public alike, offering a powerful counter-narrative to the dominant stories of enslavement and oppression. 

Jamez McCorkle performs in "Omar," at the opera's world premiere in 2022 at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C. 

In recognition of  Omer’s contribution and impact, a mosque in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was renamed Masjid Omar ibn Said in 1991, honoring his memory and contributions to the local Muslim community. Omar’s story has also found its way into popular culture and the arts. In 2018, the opera Omar, written by acclaimed musician Rhiannon Giddens and composer Michael Abels, was commissioned by the Spoleto Festival USA. 

The opera, which tells the story of Omar ibn Said’s life, premiered on May 27, 2022, in Charleston, South Carolina, the very city where Omar first arrived in America as an enslaved person. The opera received widespread acclaim and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2023, further cementing Omar’s place in American cultural history. 

Omar ibn Said passed away in 1864 at over 90 years old, still enslaved by the Owens family. He is buried in Bladen County, North Carolina, where his grave remains a pilgrimage site for those honoring his legacy.