Upholding Dignity: How American Muslims Respond Amid Rising Political Islamophobia and Rhetoric Targeting the Prophet Muhammad

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SUMMARY: Explore how American Muslims are navigating an increasingly hostile political climate, marked by school textbook controversies in Texas and high-profile rhetoric from political figures, by responding with steadfast character, historical perspective, and community resilience.

For millions of Muslims worldwide, the Prophet Muhammad occupies a place of profound reverence—a love that transcends ordinary affection. It is a foundational aspect of their faith, reflected in the traditional practice of following his name immediately with the invocation, "May Allah send peace and blessings upon him." Because of this deep devotion, recent political developments targeting both the Prophet and Islamic identity have sparked widespread pain and concern within American Muslim communities.

The climate of rising political rhetoric has manifest across multiple fronts in recent months. Most notably, educational authorities in Texas approved school curricula that critics and community advocates point out slander the Prophet Muhammad by labeling him as "brutal." This institutional curriculum challenge arrives alongside a broader backdrop where Islamophobic tropes and rhetoric are increasingly mainstreamed by political figures seeking to mobilize voter bases ahead of midterm elections.

The intersection of political rhetoric and identity came into sharp focus on Friday, October 16, 2026. During a campaign rally held inside an airport hangar in Dalton, Georgia, former President Donald Trump targeted Abdul Rahman El-Sayed, a Senate candidate from Michigan. Addressing the crowd, the former president referred to El-Sayed as "Mohammad," before declaring, "I’m the president. I can call you whatever the hell I want."

Expanding on the remark, he told the audience, "If you’re in doubt about somebody’s name from the Middle East, just say ‘Mohammad.’ You have about a 65% chance." Mimicking a greeting, he added, "Hello, Mohammad," and asserted, "I’ve done it for years now. I’ve never been wrong."

These incidents raise pressing questions for American Muslims about how to process public mockery, political posturing, and systemic bias while maintaining civic engagement and personal dignity.

First, check your own heart

History offers profound reassurance for those troubled by contemporary disrespect. The name Muhammad was frequently mocked during the Prophet’s own lifetime. The leaders of Makkah, driven by intense opposition to his message, refused to utter his actual name, instead twisting it into "Mudhammam," a derogatory term meaning "the one who is blamed."

According to accounts recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet’s response to this persistent mockery was characterized by remarkable calm and perspective. He remarked to his companions, "Doesn’t it astonish you how Allah protects me from the abuse and curses of Quraish? They abuse Mudhammam and curse Mudhammam, whereas I am Muhammad." The insults failed to reach him because they were directed at a distortion, leaving his actual identity untouched.

Contemporary believers are encouraged to carry that same steady disposition. Political jokes and campaign rally rhetoric cannot diminish a name honored by over a billion people daily in their prayers. Islamic tradition provides a moral compass for reacting to insults and societal rudeness, pointing to the guidance found in the Quran, specifically in Surah Al-Furqan, which describes the true servants of the Most Compassionate as those who "walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them improperly, they only respond with Salam."

The greatest American named Muhammad

Amid contemporary political discourse, historians and community leaders point to a powerful American precedent that redefines the cultural resonance of the name Muhammad: the legacy of Muhammad Ali.

In 1964, a charismatic young heavyweight boxing champion from Louisville, Kentucky, originally known as Cassius Clay, announced to the world that he had embraced Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. At the time, the decision was met with widespread resistance. Many members of the public, media figures, and sports establishments refused to use his new name, sometimes mocking it deliberately in a manner echoing modern political taunts.

Ali refused to compromise his identity or his faith. He retained his name, defended his convictions, and ultimately transformed into one of the most celebrated and beloved athletic figures on the planet. Decades later, in 1996, a massive crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, stood in thunderous applause as Ali, battling Parkinson’s syndrome, raised the Olympic torch to light the flame, signaling the opening of the Centennial Olympic Games. The moment stands as a powerful historical reminder that the state of Georgia once cheered wholeheartedly for an American bearing the name Muhammad as he carried a symbol of unity for the entire world.

The cultural footprint of that legacy continues to unfold. A major new biographical series chronicling his life, titled "The Greatest," is set to premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, November 4, 2026—the day immediately following the midterm elections. The first season follows his journey from winning Olympic gold in 1960 to claiming the heavyweight title in 1964, the pivotal year he adopted the name Muhammad. Cultural advocates suggest that engaging with such artistic works alongside neighbors and friends of other faiths provides a natural bridge for meaningful dialogue about heritage, identity, and American history.

A last word

Efforts to trivialize or mock the name Muhammad—whether through political campaign rhetoric or institutional curriculum decisions—ultimately seek to evoke a sense of smallness and alienation among American Muslims. However, community leaders emphasize that individuals do not need to internalize this marginalization. Instead, living out the values of honesty, kindness, courage, and genuine service to local neighborhoods remains the most effective response, offering a testament of character that no political joke or rhetorical jab can diminish.

Islamic Family & Youth
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An Open Call for Solidarity: Interfaith Communities Respond to Rising Islamophobia and Rhetoric Targeting the Name Muhammad

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An open letter addressed to Christian, Jewish, and other faith-based communities across the United States is calling for robust solidarity with the nation’s Muslim population. The appeal comes in the wake of an environment that community leaders describe as having been purposely and artificially saturated with Islamophobia by bad-faith political actors.

The core of the appeal relies on a shared sense of reverence for sacred figures across the Abrahamic traditions. To illustrate the gravity of the rhetoric, the letter invites readers to imagine a public political crowd laughing openly at the name of Mary, Moses, or Joseph—names deeply held and frequently carried by loved ones at home, whether as a mother, a grandfather, or a son. For Muslim Americans, that hypothetical scenario became a reality following remarks made during a political rally.

According to reports from Reuters and regional media coverage, the incident occurred during a campaign event in Dalton, Georgia. At the rally, comments were made regarding how individuals might address someone from the Middle East whose name is unknown, suggesting a generalized and dismissive placeholder. The rhetoric subsequently turned toward a Muslim Senate candidate from Michigan, drawing attention to identity and names in a public forum.

While reporting from the event noted that the crowd’s immediate response was relatively muted—a silence that observers say speaks volumes—the psychological impact on Muslim communities has been profound. For many families, the name Muhammad is carried with deep affection and honor, named in reverence for the Prophet of Islam. Hearing that name treated as a punchline or dismissed lightly at a high-profile political gathering has left many feeling alienated, vulnerable, and hurting.

The Broader Context: Attacks on Muslims in the Name of Sharia

Community advocates emphasize that this incident did not occur in a vacuum. For months, Muslim Americans have increasingly found themselves framed as an inherent societal threat under the recurring banner of "Sharia law." Civil rights and advocacy groups point out that no American Muslim organization has ever petitioned the courts or legislature to replace established American legal frameworks with religious law. Yet, legislative proposals, public speeches, and political talking points continue to invoke the concept as an imminent danger, persistently manufacturing a sense of alarm.

When viewed collectively, these occurrences form a distressing pattern rather than isolated incidents. A casual dismissal of a revered prophetic name at a political rally, localized educational controversies characterizing religious figures in derogatory terms, and legislative measures designed to counter entirely nonexistent threats all converge on a singular, exclusionary message: that Muslims do not belong in the broader American fabric. Historians, theologians, and interfaith leaders alike have long recognized where such rhetoric inevitably leads if left unchallenged.

Muhammad Ali and the Meaning of a Name

To contextualize the cultural weight, resilience, and eventual acceptance associated with the name Muhammad, community leaders often look back to the legacy of legendary heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. When Cassius Clay formally adopted the name Muhammad Ali in 1964 upon embracing Islam, the reaction from much of the mainstream sports establishment and public was marked by hostility and rejection. Many commentators and fans flatly refused to use his chosen name, subjecting him to ridicule and institutional pressure.

The challenges intensified significantly in 1967 when Ali refused military induction based on his religious convictions and conscientious objection. As a consequence, he was stripped of his championship titles, banned from boxing during the prime of his athletic career, and threatened with imprisonment. His legal battle ultimately reached the United States Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously in his favor in 1971 in an eight-to-zero decision.

Decades later, public sentiment underwent a profound transformation. By the conclusion of his life, Muhammad Ali had achieved status as a universally beloved American icon, transcending sports, politics, and religion. He was chosen to light the Olympic flame at the 1974 Atlanta Olympic Games and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

When Ali passed away in 2016, his memorial service in Louisville, Kentucky, was designed as a multi-faith gathering, incorporating Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other religious leaders who took active parts in honoring his memory—a structure he had personally planned prior to his passing. The trajectory of his life demonstrated that a man bearing the name Muhammad could ultimately become a source of immense pride for the entire nation. His historical journey remains a touchstone for interfaith organizations seeking to foster meaningful dialogue regarding faith, identity, and human dignity in public life.

As interfaith dialogues continue across the country, Muslim communities and their allies are emphasizing the importance of mutual support and shared values. The ongoing appeals for solidarity stress that preserving the dignity of all citizens is essential to maintaining a pluralistic society. Leaders from various religious backgrounds continue to express gratitude for those who stand resolute against bigotry, reinforcing a mutual commitment to support one another through challenging social and political climates.

Islamic Family & Youth
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