Reconstituted October 2020
Answers to the most common questions about the Sultanate of Amexem, Moorish American heritage, membership, meetings, and cooperative economics. If your question isn't covered here, reach out directly.
The Sultanate of Amexem is the custodial governing authority for the descendants of the Nation of Moab, modernly identified as Moorish American. It exists to protect Moorish American nationality, preserve heritage, and coordinate cooperative economic and civic life among its members.
The Sultanate was reconstituted in October 2020 under the House of Simmons Bey. This was a restoration of a governing authority rooted in the lineage of Noble Drew Ali and the Moorish Science Temple of America — not the founding of a new organization.
The Sultanate operates across Amexem (the Americas) with members and lodges throughout the continental United States. Administrative coordination is centralized through the Sultanate's offices, while local community activity takes place through regional chapters and trade circles.
The Sultanate is led by the House of Simmons Bey, which reconstituted the governing authority in 2020. Day-to-day operations are coordinated through ministries and councils that report through a defined chain of governance.
No. The Sultanate is a nationality and governing body, not a religious denomination. It honors the principles taught by Noble Drew Ali — Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice — but membership is rooted in nationality and lineage rather than religious doctrine.
Noble Drew Ali (1886–1929) was the prophet and founder of the Moorish Science Temple of America. He restored the nationality of the so-called Negro by proclaiming them Moorish American — descendants of the ancient Moabites — and established the institutional framework that underpins Moorish American life today.
The MSTA was founded by Noble Drew Ali in 1925 as the institutional vehicle for Moorish American nationality, faith, and self-governance. It introduced the surnames Bey and El, codified the principles of Moorish life, and provided the foundation upon which the Sultanate of Amexem stands.
The Nation of Moab refers to the ancient nation from which Moorish Americans descend. Noble Drew Ali restored this identity in the modern era, teaching that the people commonly labeled Negro, Black, or African American are in fact the heirs of Moab — a sovereign nation with its own history, lineage, and law.
Moorish Americans are the descendants of the Nation of Moab living in Amexem (the Americas). They carry the surnames Bey and El, claim their nationality through proclamation, and inherit the lineage restored by Noble Drew Ali through the Moorish Science Temple of America.
Bey and El are ancestral surnames that mark Moorish American nationality. They identify the bearer as a free national descendant of Moab, restored through the work of Noble Drew Ali, and are taken on through proclamation as part of reclaiming one's true heritage.
Begin by attending a Friday Holy Day Meeting as an Affiliate — the free entry tier open to all. After consistent attendance and orientation study (Holy Koran, Divine Constitution & Bylaws, and the Moorish Questionnaire), submit a formal application through the Sultanate's apply page. The membership council reviews each applicant before elevation to Community standing.
Membership progresses through four clearly defined tiers — Affiliate, Community, General, and Lead. Affiliate is the free entry standing. Community is the recognized dues-paying member with voting rights. General is the chapter-leadership tier within the Grand Body. Lead is senior operational leadership of a chartered body with a physical location. Each tier is earned through demonstrated standing.
Affiliate standing is free — no application required, no dues. Community membership and above require monthly dues of $50, and General and Lead tiers carry an additional one-time charter registration fee. The application and orientation process itself involves no fee at the Affiliate level.
Community, General, and Lead members contribute $50 per month, which funds the Uplifting Fund, member services, events, and the day-to-day operation of the Sultanate. Affiliate members pay no dues. Dues are kept deliberately accessible so that standing is determined by participation, not financial capacity.
The typical pathway from Affiliate to Community member requires at least 3 months of consistent meeting attendance, completion of orientation study (sacred texts and the Constitution), and approval by leadership. There is no single fixed timeline — advancement reflects engagement, character, and standing.
Public events and select educational meetings are open to all who approach in good faith. Internal governance meetings, ceremonies, and member-only programming are reserved for proclaimed Moorish Americans in good standing with the Sultanate.
General community meetings are held on a recurring monthly schedule, with additional working sessions, classes, and trade circles convened throughout the month. A current calendar is published on the events page.
Designated public meetings are open to non-members who wish to learn about the Sultanate and Moorish American heritage. Internal governance, ritual, and member-only sessions are closed to the general public.
RSVPs are submitted through the events page, where each meeting lists its date, location, format, and registration link. Members in good standing may also RSVP through the member portal.
The Business Mastermind is a member-only working group focused on cooperative economics, business formation, and peer accountability among Moorish American entrepreneurs. Members workshop ventures, share resources, and coordinate trade through this circle.
The Uplifting Fund is the Sultanate's cooperative capital pool, funded by member dues and contributions. It is deployed to support member businesses, community development, mutual aid, and the institutional growth of the Sultanate.
Members who own businesses may apply for Sultanate certification through the certify page. Certification requires review of the business, agreement to the Sultanate's standards of trade, and placement within the Sultanate's directory and trade network.
The trade network is the coordinated economic circle of certified Moorish American businesses operating under the Sultanate's standards. Members trade with one another preferentially, building cooperative economic strength within the nation.
Bey Group International is the commercial arm associated with the Sultanate's economic activity. It coordinates large-scale trade, partnerships, and ventures that extend the Sultanate's economic footprint beyond the member-to-member trade network.
If your question wasn't answered here, reach out to the Sultanate directly. A member of our council will respond.
Contact the Sultanate