First Muslim Elected to the Senate Reveals Why He Plans to Use the Quran Instead of the Bible When Taking His Oath of Office

Abdul El-Sayed, who has been elected as the first Muslim senator in the United States, has revealed that he plans to use a Quran when he takes office in January 2027.

The Michigan Democrat said he has not yet decided which Quran he will use for the ceremony. However, he made it clear that his promise as a senator will be to protect and defend the US Constitution, not any religious book.

El-Sayed made the announcement during an interview with NPR journalist Leila Fadel on Thursday, November 12.

He explained that he is considering two historic copies of the Quran. One of them once belonged to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and one of the country’s founding fathers.

Jefferson bought an English translation of the Quran in the 1700s. The book is now kept at the Library of Congress, where important historical documents and books are preserved.

Interestingly, this same Quran was used in January 2007 by Keith Ellison, who became the first Muslim elected to the US House of Representatives. Ellison used the book during a special ceremony after taking his official oath.

El-Sayed is also considering another old Quran kept at the University of Michigan. He described it as the first Quran in the state, making it another meaningful choice for his swearing-in.

The 2026 election saw El-Sayed defeat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race. His victory made history because, although Muslims have previously been elected to the House of Representatives, none had been elected to the US Senate before him.

His decision to use a Quran has also raised questions about whether American politicians must use a Bible when taking office.

Under American law, senators are not required to place their hands on a Bible or any other religious book when taking their oath.

The US Constitution allows elected officials to take their oath according to their personal beliefs. It also makes clear that nobody can be prevented from holding public office because of their religion.

This means a Christian senator can use a Bible, a Muslim senator can use a Quran, and someone who does not follow any religion can take the oath without using a religious book.

What matters is that the senator promises to support and defend the US Constitution.

El-Sayed has not confirmed whether he will use the Quran during the official Senate ceremony, a separate ceremony for photographs with family members, or both.

Another interesting part of his upcoming swearing-in is that Vice President JD Vance may be the person who administers his oath.

Vance criticised El-Sayed during the election campaign, and the two politicians publicly disagreed on several issues.

However, as vice president, Vance also serves as president of the Senate and traditionally oversees the swearing-in of newly elected senators.

When asked how he felt about possibly taking his oath before someone who had criticised him during the campaign, El-Sayed suggested that he had no intention of making the occasion uncomfortable.

He also recognised how unusual it would be for a political opponent to play such an important role in his historic moment.

Despite the attention surrounding his religious beliefs, El-Sayed said people should remember that the oath is about serving the American people and protecting the Constitution.

He recalled visiting the National Archives, where he had the opportunity to see an original copy of the US Constitution.

According to him, the experience reminded him of an important American principle: people should have the freedom to vote, stand for election and serve their country regardless of their religion.

For El-Sayed, becoming the first Muslim senator is not only a personal achievement but also an important moment for Muslim Americans who have never previously had someone from their faith serving in the US Senate.

As he prepares to begin his term in January 2027, his choice of Quran remains undecided. However, he has made one thing clear: regardless of the religious book he holds during the ceremony, his official promise will be to the United States Constitution.