Dr Abdul El-Sayed, the descendant of Egyptian immigrants into the USA, has won the election for the Senate seat in the US Congress from Michigan, in the recent mid-term elections.
01A deeper significance
Liberal groups have hailed his victory. Michigan, a state having only 2% Muslims, has elected a Muslim, which belies the allegation that most white Americans are racist and anti-Muslim.
However, in my opinion Dr El-Sayed’s victory has a deeper significance for the whole world. Let me explain.
02Suleh-e-Kul
Many countries in the world have great diversity: several religions, races, languages, cultures, etc. Some have tremendous diversity, including the USA, Canada, many South American countries, the UK and several other European countries, India, Australia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.
To my mind these countries can remain united and prosper only if they follow the policy of Suleh-e-Kul“Peace with all”: the policy of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who gave every faith and community equal standing in his empire., or giving equal respect to all religions and communities, proclaimed by the great Moghul Emperor Akbar.
These countries can remain united and prosper only if they follow the policy of Suleh-e-Kul.
It was because of this wise, inclusive policy that the Moghul Empire lasted so long. In his own Court, Akbar, though a Muslim, had many Hindus in top positions, e.g. Todar Mal was in charge of the finances of the Moghul Empire, Birbal and Man Singh were famous generals, etc. Akbar abolished the jizyaA tax levied on non-Muslim subjects under Muslim rule. Akbar abolished it in 1564., the tax on Hindus, and other oppressive burdens on them, and treated all religions with equal respect.
03India’s departure
The Indian Constitution of 1950, no doubt proclaimed India a secular state. However, in 2014 the right-wing pro-Hindu BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) came to power, and since then India, though still a de jure secular state, has in reality been transformed into a de facto Hindu state, its institutions ‘saffronisedSaffron is the colour of Hindu nationalism. To “saffronise” an institution is to bring it under that ideology.’, and its minorities oppressed in various ways, e.g. lynching of some, beating them for not saying ‘Jai Shri Ram“Hail Lord Ram”: a Hindu devotional chant that has become a rallying cry of Hindu nationalists.’, bulldozing their houses, and jailing them for long periods on false charges, e.g. Dr Umar KhalidAn Indian activist and scholar arrested in September 2020 under India’s anti-terror law in a case over that year’s Delhi riots. He denies the charges..
In my opinion this is a disastrous policy, and will create huge problems for India in the coming years.
04What Michigan showed
Coming back to Dr El-Sayed, the overwhelming white population in Michigan voted for him, which goes to the credit of most white Americans who have risen to the occasion, and voted for someone not belonging to their ethnicity, and have thus shown that most Americans are good people, and not racist.
Most Americans are good people, and not racist.
Dr El-Sayed received very little money for his election campaign, as compared to his Republican rival who allegedly received huge funds from Zionists and rich Republicans, but yet he won.
In my article below I have said that the recent US mid-term elections have restored balance in US politics, since President Trump will no longer be able to take unilateral decisions (for making war, imposing tariffs, etc), as he was doing till now.
Abdul El-Sayed, who will be the first Muslim in the US Senate, will certainly help in this process. I have heard many of his speeches on YouTube, and found that he has always been modest, balanced in his views, and focusing on public health, the price of fuel and groceries, and education in America.
05The campaign against him
However, in tweet after tweet, and in other social media, some people have tried to disparage and denigrate him because of his Muslim identity. He has been described as a dangerous man, as being a jihadi, a terrorist, an extremist, as belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, etc, allegations which he has always denied.
President Trump ridiculed him.
Brittany Hughes, a journalist, has said Abdul’s election endangers the future of her daughters.
Despite all this malicious, noxious and false propaganda, Dr El-Sayed won, and one can be sure he will act in a balanced and responsible manner after taking his seat in the US Senate.
Dr El-Sayed’s victory is a message not only for America but also for India and the whole world, the message of Suleh-e-Kul.
- Emperor Akbar is the Father of the Indian Nationindica News
- Suleh-e-kul is the only correct policy for Indiaindica News
