Abdul El-Sayed Discusses Sharia Compliance in 2009 Interview

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, expressed a religious obligation to adhere to Sharia-compliant practices in a 2009 interview with The New York Times. El-Sayed stated, "Ultimately, the question is, when I die and I stand before God and go through everything I did in my life, I don’t want to say I did it the easy way instead of the Shariah-compliant way. Not because of fear but because of obligation." At the time, he was a medical student discussing his choice to pursue a Sharia-compliant mortgage for a condo in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sharia law generally prohibits interest on loans, leading some Muslim Americans to opt for alternative payment plans that do not involve interest. El-Sayed's campaign spokeswoman, Roxie Richner, noted that he believes in the separation of church and state, while personally following the rules of his faith. El-Sayed has criticized bans on Sharia law, linking such efforts to white supremacy. He has also addressed historical injustices faced by various communities in the U.S. and their connection to contemporary issues regarding Muslim Americans. El-Sayed has faced scrutiny for his associations with figures linked to Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, known for controversial statements. The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment.