By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Thursday, November 05, 2026
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
Alhamdulillah. All praise is due to Allah, the Almighty, the Subduer, the One who elevates whom He wills and deposes whom He wills. We praise Him, we seek His guidance, and we ask for His forgiveness. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partners, and we bear witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His servant and final Messenger.
Dear servants of Allah! I advise you and myself to fear Allah. For indeed, the final outcome belongs only to the mindful. Allah warns us in the Noble Qur’an. He says:
“Say, ‘O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honour whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.'” [Qur’an, 3:26]
Dear brothers and sisters! Donald Trump’s Republican Party suffered a historic landslide defeat in the US midterm elections on November 3, 2026, as a massive “blue wave” delivered control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to the Democratic Party. This sweeping victory effectively turns President Trump into a “lame duck” for the final two years of his presidency, crippling his legislative power and subjecting his administration to intense congressional oversight.
The defeat was driven by a combination of key state flips, major candidate upsets, and clear voter dissatisfaction with foreign and economic policies.
The scale of the Republican losses stunned political analysts, breaking decades-old voting patterns as Democrats flipped deep-red strongholds.
In arguably the most historic race of the night, Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton to claim a Texas Senate seat. A Democrat had not won a Senate election in Texas since 1988.
Democrats broke a nearly three-decade streak by flipping a Senate seat in South Carolina, alongside major Senate victories in traditional Republican strongholds like Iowa and Kansas.
Longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins was ousted by Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine, while Democrat Chris Pappas defeated former Republican Senator John Sununu in New Hampshire.
What Are The Key Reasons Behind The Defeat?
- The War on Iran and Rising Prices
In his post-election media appearances, President Donald Trump openly conceded that the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, which significantly drove up American consumer prices, played a massive role in alienating voters.
- Rejection of Trump’s Agenda
Exit polling indicated that voters overwhelmingly viewed the election as a direct referendum on Trump’s polarising presidency, citing the economy and the state of democracy as their top motivators for voting blue.
- Weak Endorsed Candidates
Trump partially blamed the losses on the Republican candidates themselves. He distanced himself from several failed campaigns, admitting that voters simply “didn’t like the candidates” he had put forward.
Now with Democrats commanding both chambers, they now hold the power to block Trump’s legislative wishlist, pull back funding, and launch extensive congressional investigations into the White House.
Analysts expect Trump’s iron-clad grip on his own party to loosen as congressional Republicans begin looking ahead to their political survival in the 2028 presidential election cycle.
Here, the core lesson of worldly authority is that power belongs entirely to Allah, and whenever a leader cloaks themselves in pride, their eventual fall serves as a universal sign for those who reflect.
For example, look across history and look closely at our world today. We witness the rise and fall of leaders who believed they were untouchable. When we look at political figures who build their entire legacy on the pillars of arrogance, division, mockery, and absolute pride—such as Donald Trump—their sudden, crashing defeats are not merely political news. They are profound, spiritual realities.
For years, an arrogant leader may believe that their wealth, their media machinery, their passionate crowds, and their temporary power make them immune to failure. They speak as if they control the destiny of nations. They treat the vulnerable with disdain, disregard justice, and mock the truth.
But Allah is Al-Mutakabbir—The Supreme, the Only One Justified in Pride. When a human being attempts to wear the cloak of pride, Allah strips it away to show the creation how fragile man truly is. The transition from the highest seat of worldly power to a sudden, humbling loss is a clear sign. It is a modern manifestation of the ancient truth: No matter how high you rise in the eyes of the world, if your foundation is arrogance, your fall is a decree already written.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) gave us a definition of arrogance that pierces through every political speech and campaign. He said:
“Arrogance is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people.” [Sahih Muslim]
When leaders reject absolute truths, manipulate realities for personal gain, and view ordinary citizens as mere tools for their ego, they enter a losing battle against the Divine Law. The Qur’an recounts the stories of Pharaoh, Qarun, and Namrud. They did not fall because they lacked wealth or armies; they fell because they forgot they were merely dust walking on dust.
Any politician, leader, or person of authority who fails to learn from these downfalls is blind to history. Power is a temporary loan, not a permanent possession. Today you are on the throne; tomorrow you are a cautionary tale.
This lesson is not just for the rulers in palaces; it is a mirror for our own hearts.
If a man who controlled nuclear codes and global economies can be humbled overnight, who are we to be arrogant in our homes, workplaces, or communities?
True strength lies in humility and justice, not in loud boasts or oppressive policies.
Do not despair when tyrants or arrogant leaders seem to dominate. Allah gives them respite, but He never forgets.
Respected brothers and sisters! Remember that, your voter’s card is not a mere piece of plastic; it is a sacred trust and amanah, a formal testimony and Shahadah, and a powerful instrument of Amru bil-Ma’ruf wan-Nahyu anil-Munkar: enjoining good and forbidding evil. In the light of Islamic jurisprudence and spiritual accountability, how we use—or neglect—this tool (voters card) will be weighed by Allah Almighty on the Day of Judgment.
And know that the religion of Islam is not a religion restricted only to the corners of the Mosque, nor is it isolated from the affairs of the society in which we live. Allah Almighty says in the Noble Qur’an:
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives…” [Qur’an, 4:135]
Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, when you hold your voter’s card, you are holding a great pen that writes the future of your Ummah. In the scales of the Shari’ah, casting a vote is a form of Shahadah and Testimony. When you vote for a leader, you are testifying before Allah that this person is capable, trustworthy, and just. If you sell that vote for a fleeting worldly gain, or if you cast it out of blind tribalism or nepotism for an oppressor, you have borne false witness—a major sin in Islam.
And what of those who stay home out of cynicism?
To withhold your vote when your Ummah needs righteous leaders is to conceal the truth. Allah Almighty warns us:
“…And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it – his heart is indeed sinful. And Allah is Knowing of what you do.” [Qur’an, 2:283]
Rise, claim your card, guard your amanah, and let your vote be a witness for you, not against you, on the Day we return to Him.
Dear brothers and sisters! To truly understand the weight of civic engagement in Islam, we must look at the three dimensions of what a voter’s card represent:
- The Voters Card as an Amanah, a Sacred Trust
Allah Almighty states:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice…” [Qur’an, 4:58]
The power to choose who governs your resources, protects your rights, and maintains safety is a trust given to you. Abdicating this responsibility allows corruption to thrive unchecked.
- The Weight of Shahadah, a Legal Testimony
In Islamic law, a vote acts as a recommendation and Tazkiyah, and a testimony and Shahadah.
● Voting for competence means you testify that the candidate will stand up for the poor, fund schools, and secure communities.
● Selling or wasting a vote means bearing a false witness, making the voter spiritually complicit in every act of injustice that politician commits while in office.
- Continuous Charity or Continuous Liability, the Sadaqah/Jariyah
If the leader you help elect builds hospitals, establishes justice, and alleviates poverty, a share of the reward belongs to you. Conversely, if that leader plunders the land, oppresses the weak, and brings ruin, the psychological and spiritual burden of that systemic evil attaches to those who brought them to power.
It is easy to fall into despair. It is easy to look at the political landscape and say, “My single vote will change nothing. The system is entirely broken.”
But remember the story of the ant in the army of Prophet Sulaiman. When the massive army approached, a tiny ant did not remain silent thinking its voice was insignificant. It called out to save its nation:
“O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Sulaiman and his soldiers while they perceive not.” [Qur’an, 27:18]
Allah Almighty immortalised that single ant’s effort in the Qur’an.
You are not responsible for fixing the entire world by yourself, but you are entirely responsible for the weight of your own hand. When Allah asks you on the Day of Judgment, “When you saw injustice, when you saw the weak suffering, what did you do with the tools (voters card) I gave you?”—your voter’s card will be part of that questioning. Do not let your answer be that you voluntarily chose silence.
And finally, dear brothers and sisters! In the 2026 US midterm elections, Muslim candidates achieved historic victories across federal and state levels, including the election of the first-ever Muslim US Senator. They are as follows:
- Abdul El-Sayed (Democrat – Michigan)
Made history as the first Muslim ever elected to the US Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers.
- Adam Hamawy (Democrat – New Jersey)
Won the race for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, becoming the first Muslim elected to represent New Jersey in Congress.
- Darializa Avila Chevalier (Democrat – New York)
Won New York’s 13th Congressional District, making history as the first Latina Muslim woman elected to Congress.
- Ilhan Omar (Democrat – Minnesota)
Successfully secured her fifth term representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
- Rashida Tlaib (Democrat – Michigan)
Retained her seat in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District.
- Andre Carson (Democrat – Indiana)
Won re-election to continue representing Indiana’s 7th Congressional District.
- Lateefah Simon (Democrat – California)
Won her congressional race in California’s 12th Congressional District.
- Aisha Wahab (California)
Won her race for the California State Legislature.
- Nabeela Syed and Abdelnasser Rashid (Illinois)
Elected as the first Muslim state legislators in the Illinois House of Representatives.
- Mana Abdi, Deqa Dhalac, and Ambureen Rana (Maine)
Made history as the first Muslims elected to the Maine State Legislature.
- Munira Abdullahi and Ismail Mohamed (Ohio)
Became the first Muslims elected to serve in the Ohio state legislature.
- Salman Bhojani and Suleman Lalani (Texas)
Achieved history as the first Muslims elected to the Texas Legislature.
- Nabilah Islam and Ruwa Romman (Georgia)
Re-elected/elected to the Georgia State Senate and House, expanding Muslim representation in the state.
- Zaynab Mohamed and Samakab Hussein (Minnesota)
Secured legislative seats, bringing Minnesota’s total to 5 elected Muslim state lawmakers.
- Mauree Turner (Oklahoma)
Became the first Muslim lawmaker elected to the Oklahoma state legislature.
- Madinah Wilson-Anton (Delaware)
Made history as the first Muslim elected to Delaware’s state legislature.
- Iman Jodeh (Colorado)
Elected to represent her district in the Colorado state legislature.
We ask Allah to purify our hearts from pride, to grant us leaders who fear Him and show mercy to the people, and to make our final actions our best actions.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.