{"id":1629,"date":"2026-11-09T00:46:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T00:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/?p=1629"},"modified":"2026-11-09T00:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T00:46:09","slug":"defending-the-prophet-muhammad-and-the-name-muhammad-amid-rising-islamophobia-in-american-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/?p=1629","title":{"rendered":"Defending the Prophet Muhammad and the Name Muhammad Amid Rising Islamophobia in American Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

SUMMARY:<\/strong> Examine how Muslims can respond to defend the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, in an environment where Islamophobia is increasingly whipped up in society by politicians.<\/em><\/p>\n

Muslims love the Prophet Muhammad more than anyone. They do not even say his name without adding, "God’s peace and blessings be upon him." That profound devotion is precisely why it is so painful to witness systemic political attacks targeting Islamic heritage, such as recent moves by Texas Republicans to approve school lessons that slander the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, as "brutal." <\/p>\n

The political climate took another hostile turn on Friday, October 16, 2026. During a campaign rally held inside an airport hangar in Dalton, Georgia, President Trump singled out Abdul Rahman El-Sayed, a Senate candidate from Michigan. Deliberately misnaming him, the former president called him "Mohammad," and added, "I’m the president. I can call you whatever the hell I want."<\/p>\n

Expanding on the remark before the crowd, he continued, "If you’re in doubt about somebody’s name from the Middle East, just say ‘Mohammad.’ You have about a 65% chance." He then pantomimed a greeting, saying, "Hello, Mohammad," before asserting, "I’ve done it for years now. I’ve never been wrong."<\/p>\n

That is what happened on the campaign trail. For American Muslims and communities striving for pluralism and respect, the pressing question is what to do next in the face of such public derision.<\/p>\n

First, check your own heart<\/h2>\n

The name Muhammad was mocked even during the Prophet’s own lifetime, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. The people of Makkah who fiercely opposed his message refused to utter his blessed name. Instead, they twisted it into Mudhammam<\/em>, a derogatory alteration meaning "the one who is blamed." <\/p>\n

The Prophet’s reaction to this petty abuse was remarkably calm and lighthearted. According to a narration in Sahih Bukhari, 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." Their insults ultimately failed to touch him because they were directed at a distorted name that was not his.<\/p>\n

Believers today can carry that same inner calm. A casual joke or a deliberate insult at a political rally cannot lower a name that God has raised. More than a billion people across the globe send blessings on him every single day in their prayers. <\/p>\n

The Quran instructs the true servants of God to maintain their dignity and composure when confronted by ignorance or hostility. As the scripture states in Surah Al-Furqan: "The true servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them improperly, they only respond with Salam."<\/p>\n

Thinking points<\/h2>\n

Navigating moments of public ridicule requires deep reflection on the nature of faith, dignity, and historical precedent. When public figures weaponize names or religious figures for political applause, it reflects more on the character of the speaker than on the heritage of millions of people who bear those names with pride. Understanding that these trials are not new helps contextualize contemporary political rhetoric within a broader historical tapestry where patience and steadfast character have always prevailed over mockery.<\/p>\n

Talking points for your coworkers and neighbors<\/h2>\n

When discussing these incidents with colleagues, neighbors, or acquaintances, maintaining clarity and conciseness is essential. Keeping remarks brief allows for genuine dialogue rather than confrontation. Sharing a simple, grounded perspective often opens the door for meaningful listening and mutual understanding, transforming a moment of tension into an opportunity for education and connection.<\/p>\n

The greatest American named Muhammad<\/h2>\n

There is a powerful historical parallel worth telling right now. In 1964, a dynamic young boxer from Louisville, Kentucky, named Cassius Clay captured the world heavyweight boxing championship. Shortly after his historic victory, he announced his new name to the world: Muhammad Ali. <\/p>\n

At the time, many people and media outlets refused to use his chosen name. Some mocked it intentionally, echoing the exact kind of public disrespect seen on modern political stages. Yet, Ali refused to back down. He kept his name, held steadfastly to his faith, and ultimately transformed himself into one of the most beloved and respected athletes on the planet.<\/p>\n

Decades later, in 1996, a massive crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, stood in absolute reverence and cheered as he stepped forward to light the Olympic flame. It is a remarkable historical irony worth pondering: Georgia once cheered enthusiastically for a man named Muhammad who carried the torch not just for America, but for the whole world.<\/p>\n

For those looking to engage with this legacy, a new television series chronicling his life, titled "The Greatest," is set to premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, November 4, 2026\u2014the day after the midterm elections. The first season follows his journey from his 1960 Olympic gold medal to his 1964 world title, the pivotal year he embraced the name Muhammad. Watching the series alongside a friend or neighbor of another faith provides an organic opening to ask a simple question: "Why do you think he chose that name?" It serves as a gentle doorway into a deeper, more meaningful conversation about identity, conviction, and respect.<\/p>\n

What you can do now<\/h2>\n

Responding constructively to public provocations involves leaning into community resilience, education, and positive civic engagement. Rather than reacting out of anger, individuals and local institutions can amplify positive narratives about Islamic heritage, support educational initiatives that correct misconceptions, and build stronger alliances with interfaith partners who stand against bigotry in all its forms.<\/p>\n

A last word<\/h2>\n

People who mock the name Muhammad want the Muslim community to feel small, marginalized, and defensive. We do not have to accept that premise. Instead, we can choose to be the best living proof of what that name truly represents: honesty, kindness, bravery, and dedicated service to our neighbors. That is an authentic, powerful answer that no political joke can ever beat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SUMMARY: Examine how Muslims can respond to defend the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, in an environment where Islamophobia is increasingly whipped up in society by politicians. Muslims love the Prophet Muhammad more than anyone. They do not even say his name without adding, "God’s peace and blessings be upon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[293],"tags":[278,869,1666,294,297,871,957,295,956,1637,1013,870,296],"class_list":["post-1629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-islamic-family-youth","tag-american","tag-amid","tag-defending","tag-islamic-parenting","tag-islamic-values","tag-islamophobia","tag-muhammad","tag-muslim-family","tag-name","tag-politics","tag-prophet","tag-rising","tag-tarbiyah"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiritualparent.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}