Abdul El-Sayed Set to Become First Muslim Senator, Will Swear on Quran
Newly elected Michigan Senator Abdul El-Sayed announced he will swear his oath of office on the Quran, becoming the first Muslim to serve in the United States Senate.
Abdul El-Sayed, the newly elected Democratic senator from Michigan, announced in an interview with NPR that he intends to swear his oath of office on the Quran, becoming the first Muslim to serve in the United States Senate.
Speaking to Leila Fadel, El-Sayed explained that the final decision regarding which specific copy of the holy book to use has not yet been finalized. He noted two prominent historical possibilities: using the ancient copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson, which was famously used by Keith Ellison when he was sworn into Congress, or choosing the very first Quran brought to the state of Michigan, which is currently preserved at the University of Michigan.
El-Sayed, a 42-year-old physician and former public health official, secured victory in the November 3 election by defeating former Republican Representative Mike Rogers by a margin of approximately seven percentage points. He is set to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters in January. The son of Egyptian immigrants, El-Sayed previously directed public health departments in Detroit and Wayne County.
During his campaign, El-Sayed focused heavily on the cost of living, the expansion of universal public healthcare, and reducing the influence of corporate money in politics. He successfully mobilized youth turnout in university towns and Dearborn—a major hub for the Arab American community—while also carrying four counties that had previously voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
Days after his election, El-Sayed emphasized his Arab American heritage during an address at the Arab America Foundation conference in Chantilly, Virginia. Declaring that "Michigan is the capital of Arab America," he underscored his historic milestone as he prepares to enter the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress.
