‘Inshallah’ to ‘Alhamdulillah’: Abdul El-Sayed’s historic win

Democratic candidate Dr Abdul El-Sayed has defeated Republican contender Mike Rogers to win a US Senate seat from Michigan, becoming the first Muslim elected member of the upper chamber of the US Congress.

The 42-year-old’s victory is being viewed as a major success for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. His campaign focused on reducing the influence of wealthy donors and major corporations in politics, expanding access to healthcare and ensuring Medicare coverage for everyone.

El-Sayed also called for an end to US military assistance to Israel, making the issue a key part of his campaign platform. His political message attracted considerable attention, particularly among progressive voters.

Following his victory, El-Sayed said that it was possible to turn “Inshallah” (God willing) into “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to God), reflecting his optimism about the election outcome.

Born and raised in Michigan, El-Sayed is of Egyptian origin. He is a physician, epidemiologist and former public health official. His election marks a historic milestone for Muslim representation in the US Senate.

His personal life has also attracted attention. His wife is of Indian origin and wears a hijab. According to the account, El-Sayed learned Urdu to impress her and remembers the phrase, “Your eyes are very beautiful.”

His victory also came amid criticism and controversial remarks from US President Donald Trump, who repeatedly targeted the Democratic candidate during the election campaign.

Trump referred to him as “Muhammad El-Sayed” despite his actual name being Abdul El-Sayed. Responding to someone who corrected his use of the name, Trump reportedly said: “Someone said his name is not Muhammad, it is Abdul. I said, for me, it is Muhammad. I am the president, I can call him whatever I want.”

Trump also labelled El-Sayed a “radical jihadist” and made sarcastic remarks about his security arrangements, claiming that he would be the only senator required to pass through a metal detector before entering the Senate.

Despite the criticism and personal attacks, El-Sayed secured the Senate seat by defeating his Republican rival, marking a significant moment for Muslim representation in American politics.