The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad (TMHEM), leader of the Nation of Islam, taught that the White Man is the devil. This was a very bold statement. Many took offense to this as being racist and accused TMHEM of teaching hate. How could he refer to a single race of people as "the devil"? The questions that needs to be asked is, "Why did he say this?" and "What did he mean?"
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." - 2 Thessalonians 2:3
"Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent (ruler) on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not." - Surah 2:30
The above ayat tells use that there will be a vicegerent, or ruler anointed by God, himself, that will cause mischief and the shedding of blood. In all the monotheistic religions, the Devil was given a period of 6000 years to rule over the world before God sets him down. The next question that must be asked is who has been ruling for the past 6000 years? Who are the the rulers of this world that we live in today? Is it the Black man? Is it the Brown, Red, or Yellow Man? Is not the "man" ruling the world we live in today the Caucasian/White Man? And is the world of the White Man, not one that is prevalent in the making of mischief and the shedding of blood?
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians 6:12
This has nothing to do with skin color. The meaning of the phrase,"The White man is the devil" has to do with a mindset. This mindset is the mindset that promotes white supremacy. This mindset is the mindset that has pillaged, raped, conquered, enslaved and stole from every indigenous people on Earth. This mindset is the same mindset that has set up a world in total rebellion to the will of God. One does not have to be of European descent to be classified as part of "the White man." One can be of any nationality; they must only have the mindset that "the White man" represents.
The solution to this problem is not to do away with white people, but instead "the White man's" mentality. You can imprison everyone who has took something that was not theirs, but that doesn't do away with the principle of theft. This is why Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." This is also why Jesus, in the Bible, when confronting the sin of adultery, says:
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28
It is not the act that is the cause of sin, it is something in the hearts and mind of the one that committed the sin. That is what needs to be confronted and done away with.
The teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad need to be examined by those seeking truth. If it is truth, then we ought to lay hold to it. If it is not truth, then we have no reason to waste anytime with it, and it should casted to the side. I pray to Allah that these words have given you a better understanding of the teaching of TMHEM, and that they help you to defeat the mindset of rebellion to the to God and his will, so that you can be what he created man to be in the first place which is a reflection of him on Earth. Peace.