Arabs Celebrate Abdul El-Sayed's Senate Victory and Use of Arabic Terms
Abdul El-Sayed's win as the first Muslim American U.S. senator sparked celebrations across Arab communities, with many highlighting his use of the Arabic words “habibi” and “inshallah.”
Arabs from the United States to the Middle East praised Abdul El-Sayed after his election to the U.S. Senate, noting his introduction of Arabic expressions such as “habibi” and “inshallah” into American political discourse. The Michigan-born candidate, the son of Egyptian immigrants, became the first Muslim American senator and used his victory speech to address Vice President JD Vance, saying, "JD, habibi," and noting the irony of Vance’s constitutional duty to swear him in in January.
"Habibi" translates to “my beloved” but is commonly used as a friendly term meaning “buddy” or “pal," and supporters displayed shirts reading “Habibi for Abdul.” El-Sayed also said his campaign turned the phrase "inshallah" ("God willing") into "hamdulillah" ("thank God").
Social media users in Arab countries shared music videos and memes referencing the term, including a clip of Egyptian singer Shireen Abd El-Wahab and a humorous film scene. Egyptian academic Khalil al-Anani praised the word on X, calling it "the sweetest word" and thanking the senator-elect for bringing joy to Egyptians.
The celebration comes after President Donald Trump had previously labeled El-Sayed a "jihadist" and misnamed him during the campaign. In response, El-Sayed joked in his speech, "Donald, look, I know you've struggled with my name. So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me 'senator.'"