'Over a billion of them': Abdul El-Sayed's reply to uncle over marrying an Indian

Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim elected to the US Senate in the 2022 midterm elections, has shared a light-hearted anecdote about a conversation with his uncle regarding his marriage to an Indian-origin Muslim woman, Dr Sarah Jukaku. The uncle, from Egypt, expressed surprise at the union, questioning how a man could marry an Indian woman when there are over 80 million Egyptians.

El-Sayed responded by playfully telling his uncle, "Amu, there are a billion of them" to emphasize the probability of such a marriage occurring. Dr Jukaku, a practising psychiatrist, was born in Michigan to Indian immigrant parents from Karnataka. Her family has a storied history in the region, with her grandfather serving as deputy minister for finance and her father, a nephrologist, contributing significantly to the community.

The couple met while studying at the University of Michigan, where they were active members of the Muslim Students Association. Sarah proposed to Abdul in May 2006, and they have two daughters together. El-Sayed's recent political success follows a significant defeat in a gubernatorial election eight years ago, highlighting the impact of grassroots efforts and perseverance in politics.