By now you’ve likely seen the grotesque attack by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. If not, I share the now viral image below.
This vile and violent comparison does not make our country safer. It does not make our nation stronger. It does not make us the More Perfect Union our founding documents call us to become. It achieves nothing but hate and discord. But lost in this is the response from Mayor Mamdani. In one simple post he diffused the entire situation and exemplified the true essence and meaning of Ramadan.
This example is precisely what Prophet Muhammad (sa) taught when he says, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1903:
Whoever does not give up lies and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink, and Allah will not accept his fasting.
In another place Prophet Muhammad (sa) added as recorded in Sahih al-Muslim 1511,
When one of you wakes up in the morning for fasting, then he should not use obscene language or behave foolishly. If anyone abuses him or fights with him, he should say twice: Indeed, I am fasting.
And as I’ve shared before, given the immense focus on charity and humanitarian uplift in Ramadan, Mayor Mamdani’s response was perfect. He not only refused to respond in kind, he recentered the needs of those who are hungry and struggling. In doing so, Mayor Mamdani beautifully exemplified his identity as a Muslim, his embrace of true American values of pluralism, and his responsibility as a public servant out to uplift humanity.
May we all learn from this contemporary example to build the more perfect union all of our children deserve.
I discuss the above in my YouTube Short.
