Muslim News Digest, October 2026

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Muslim Digest
Editor: Zulfiqar Malik, Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
MUSLIM NEWS DIGEST, OCTOBER 2026

USA ELECTIONS:

 Muslims, the upcoming midterms and America's political future. Religion Unplugged. https://religionunplugged.com/news/2026/9/18/muslims-the-2026-midterms-and-americas-political-future

Muslim American candidates are making inroads within local races across the US. New Arab. https://www.newarab.com/news/muslim-american-candidates-make-inroads-local-races-across-us

Michigan election: The Arab and Muslims votes could make the difference. Yemeni American. https://yemeniamerican.com/en/michigan-elections-the-arab-and-muslim-vote-could-be-the-difference/

More Muslim voters register as North Texas mosques become engagement hubs. NBC5DFW. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/muslim-voters-register-north-texas-mosques-civic-engagement-hubs/4086273

Federal raid of Rep. Ilhan Omar's home sparks outcry over political intimidation. Prism Reports. https://prismreports.org/2026/10/14/ilhan-omar-raid-trump-midterms/

CAIR releases 2026 Congressional Scorecard on civil rights, religious freedom and human rights. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-releases-2026-congressional-scorecard-on-civil-rights-religious-freedom-and-human-rights/

Mayoral hopeful Syed Abbas wants to reform homeownership in Madison Wisconsin. Cap Times. https://captimes.com/news/government/mayoral-hopeful-syed-abbas-wants-to-reform-homeownership-in-madison/article_40a668df-7115-4eec-a8d4-a1bf2e8c167a.html

Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman makes her pitch to Muslim voters at Islamic Center of Southern California. USC Annenberg Media. https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2026/09/05/mayoral-candidate-nithya-raman-makes-her-pitch-to-muslim-voters-at-the-islamic-center-of-southern-california/

Talarico woos Muslim voters at Irving gathering with North Texas officials. Yahoo News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/talarico-woos-muslim-voters-irving-185518771.html

Muhith Mahmood leads after 37 absentee ballots counted in Hamtramck, Michigan mayoral race. CBS News.https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/video/mahmood-leads-after-37-absentee-ballots-counted-in-hamtramck-mayoral-race/

First Arab-American mayor to endorse Trump becomes advisor to president. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/first-arab-american-mayor-endorse-trump-becomes-white-house-adviser-president

Profile: Adam Hamawy, surgeon who treated Gaza's wounded and now runs for US Congress. Muslim Network. https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/profile-adam-hamawy-surgeon-who-treated-gazas-wounded-and-now-runs-for-congress/
 
USA NEWS:

California recognizes Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha as official holidays. Express Tribune. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2632069/california-recognises-eidul-fitr-eidul-azha-as-official-holidays

Halal meat served in Texas schools raises religious concerns for Christian parents. Dallas Express. https://dallasexpress.com/education/halal-meat-served-in-texas-schools-raises-religious-concerns-for-christian-parents/
 
Anum Zahra is named Student of the Year by the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Elm. https://elm.umaryland.edu/elm-stories/2026/Founders-Week-2026-Student-of-the-Year-Anum-Zehra.php

Two Bangladeshi students win the SpaceX AI challenge at MIT. Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/technology/news/two-bangladeshi-students-win-spacexai-challenge-mit-4291041

Malcolm X monument rises in Anne Arundel County Maryland. WTOP News. Maryland. https://wtop.com/maryland/2026/10/malcolm-x-monument-rises-in-anne-arundel-county/

Shooter of Palestinian college students convicted after 3 years. Truthout. https://truthout.org/articles/shooter-of-palestinian-college-students-convicted-after-three-years/

After religious pushback, Trump says Pentagon won't livestream execution. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/10/15/after-religious-pushback-trump-says-pentagon-wont-livestream-execution-of-fort-hood-shooter/

'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' proves to be a powerful Muslim film. Religion Unplugged. https://religionunplugged.com/news/your-mother-your-mother-your-mother-one-of-the-best-faith-based-muslim-films-ever-made

Streaming now: Kashmiri film 'Saffron Kingdom' offers a rare insider perspective. Conversation. https://theconversation.com/streaming-now-kashmiri-film-saffron-kingdom-offers-a-rare-insider-perspective-289849

'Seeds for Liberation' award winning documentary features the shared struggles of blacks, chicano and Palestinian liberation movements. Wisconsin Muslim Journal. https://wisconsinmuslimjournal.org/award-winning-documentary-features-shared-struggles-of-black-chicano-and-palestinian-liberation-movements/

New York's inaugural Muslim Film Festival aims to move past counter-narratives, unveils lineup, jury. Variety. https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/new-yorks-muslim-film-festival-counter-narratives-1236898067/

Sundance Institute and Islamic Scholarship Fund select filmmakers for 4th Building Bridges Fellowship Cohort amplifying U.S. Muslim stories. https://www.sundance.org/blogs/sundance-institute-and-islamic-scholarship-fund-select-filmmakers-for-fourth-building-bridges-fellowship-cohort-amplifying-u-s-muslim-stories/

INTERNATIONAL:

Segal Abdi-Wali becomes the first Somali-born woman elected to British Parliament. FTL Somalia. https://www.ftlsomalia.com/sagal-abdi-wali-becomes-first-somali-born-woman-elected-to-uk-parliament-in-holborn-and-st-pancras-2/

Palestinian-Canadian politician waves keffiyeh in swearing-in ceremony. Roya News TV. https://en.royanews.tv/news/75136/Palestinian-Canadian-politician-waves-keffiyeh-in-swearing-in-ceremony

Heart surgeon Asif Hasan wins Pride of Britain Award. Asian Image. https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/26654393.heart-surgeon-asif-hasan-wins-pride-britain-award/

Cancer Research UK appoints Muslim Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani as Chief Clinician. ilmfeed. https://ilmfeed.com/cancer-research-uk-appoints-muslim-professor-as-chief-clinician

Moderate new group aims to broaden dialogue beyond certain 'politically charged issues.' National Post. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/new-canadian-muslim-group-policy

Morocco's king appoints the country's first female prime minister. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/africa/fatima-zahra-mansouri-first-female-prime-minister-morocco-rcna600596

Palestinian karate athlete Maryam Basharat wins gold at the World Championships. WAFA. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/175993

Pakistan's Rameez Ibrahim wins gold at Mr. America International Championship. Daily Times. https://dailytimes.com.pk/1565984/pakistans-rameez-wins-gold-at-mr-america-intl-championship/

The Swedish rights prize honors Pakistani human rights lawyer Jalila Haider. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/2033707

Africa/Senegal- Father Dioff: "Dialogue between Christians and Muslims is a daily reality." Fides News. http://www.fides.org/en/news/78311-AFRICA_SENEGAL_Father_Diouf_Dialogue_between_Christians_and_Muslims_is_a_daily_reality

Ms. Rachel calls out celebs who are 'doing nothing' about purported genocide in Gaza. NY Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/05/media/ms-rachel-calls-out-celebs-who-are-doing-nothing-about-purported-genocide-in-gaza/

Obama warns Israel risks moral collapse over Palestinian violations. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/obama-warns-israel-risks-moral-collapse-over-palestinian-violations

Rare 700-year-old Quean manuscript to be auctioned in London. New Arab. https://www.newarab.com/news/rare-700-year-old-quran-manuscript-be-auctioned-london

Cambodia wants a bigger slice of the Gulf halal food market. Can it scale? Salaam Gateway. https://salaamgateway.com/story/cambodia-wants-a-bigger-slice-of-the-gulfs-halal-food-market-can-it-scale

Chrysanthemum Garden opens as Kashmir's new autumn tourism attraction. Kashmir Reader. https://kashmirreader.com/2026/10/23/chrysanthemum-garden-opens-as-kashmirs-new-autumn-tourism-attraction/

INSPIRATION:

Kingdom introduces all-inclusive Hajj package for 2027. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/kingdom-introduces-all-inclusive-hajj-package-for-2027-3003747

What America taught a Muslim immigrant about belonging. Cap Times. https://captimes.com/opinion/guest-columns/opinion-what-america-taught-a-muslim-immigrant-about-belonging/article_9c3a4252-75ea-4825-9251-94d144c61d19.html

Elder care and 'sandwich generations' in Muslim communities. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2026/10/07/elder-care-and-sandwich-generations-in-muslim-communities/

Clinton reveals daughter studied the Quran at 15. Minute Mirror. https://minutemirror.com.pk/clinton-reveals-daughter-studied-quran-at-15-649196/

2026 Davis Lecture Series to feature award-winning author and Islamic scholar. Iredell Free News, Statesville, NC. https://www.iredellfreenews.com/news-features/2026/2026-davis-lectures-series-to-feature-award-winning-author-and-islamic-scholar/

How Islamic social finance is keeping Sudan alive. Salaam Gateway. https://salaamgateway.com/story/how-islamic-social-finance-is-keeping-sudan-alive

Why the American founding fathers were obsessed with this Muslim ruler. IslamiCity. https://www.islamicity.org/107244/why-the-founding-fathers-were-obsessed-with-this-muslim-ruler/

A celebration of Islam in Cornwall, Canada through its art and calligraphy. Standard Freeholder. https://www.standard-freeholder.com/news/islam-cornwall-art-calligraphy/

When India sailed to Makkah: A 350-year-old Hajj chronicle. Aramco World. https://www.aramcoworld.com/articles/2026/so26/when-india-sailed-to-makkah-a-350-year-old-hajj-chronicle

Why do some Koreans look beyond their culture to Islam. Korea Times. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/globalcommunity/20261012/why-some-koreans-look-beyond-their-culture-to-islam

Center for Islamic civilization: Al-Khawarizmi, Alfraganus, Avicenna and Uzbekistan's legacy. My Pluralist. https://mypluralist.com/center-for-islamic-civilization-uzbekistan/

ChatGPT gets 70 million requests about religion weekly; most about Islam (45%), followed by Christianity (34%). Christian Post. https://www.christianpost.com/news/chatgpt-gets-70m-requests-about-religion-weekly-most-about-islam.html

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ISLAMIC DATES: 
https://fiqhcouncil.org/calendar/
Nov 11. 1st of Jamada Ukhra
Dec 10. 1st of Rajab
Jan 9. 1st of Shaban
Feb 8. 1st of Ramadan
Mar 9. 1st of Shawwal, Eid al-Fitr
Apr 8. 1st of Dhul Qadah
May 7. Dhul Hijjah
May 15. Hajj
May 16. Eid al-Adha
Jun 6. 1st of Muharram, Hijri 1449
Jun 16. Ashura
CALENDAR OF ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS JUNE 2026- JUNE 2027. https://files.constantcontact.com/d97221ec001/a6f778aa-d086-4bdf-955c-2ad6d1998f94.pdf
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS, NATIONAL:
Oct 24. Tampa FL. ISNA Conference & Banquet. https://isna.tfaforms.net/51
Oct 24. Tampa FL. ISNA Matrimonial Tampa. https://isna.tfaforms.net/51
Oct 24. San Francisco. Islamic Scholarship Fund Banquet. bit.ly/isf-bayarea-2026
Oct 25. Washington, DC. Interfaith Unity Walk. https://ifcmw.org/unity-walk-2026/
Oct 28. MPAC-CSID Webinar. Register https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g9fxIO8ITJmz6fvzZPqmCA   
Oct 30-Nov 1. Orlando. MAS Young Professionals Lighthouse Conference. https://lighthouse.muslimamericansociety.org/
Nov 2. ISF Journalism and Summer Internships. https://islamicscholarshipfund.submittable.com/submit/368329/2027-isf-journalism-spring-and-summer-internships
Nov 7. USCMO Annual Gala and General Assembly. https://uscmo.org/
Nov 7. Louisville. Muhammad Ali Annual Award Ceremony. https://alicenter.org/our-work/programs/maha/
Nov 8. Los Angeles. An Evening With Imam Zaid Shakir. Zaytuna College. https://luma.com/zaytuna-2plt
Nov 14. Newark, NJ. Muslim Economy Summit. https://www.halalmoneyforum.com/muslim-economy-summit
Nov 21-22. Houston. Islamic Arts Festival. https://islamicartssociety.org
Nov 22. Newark, CA. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia. https://www.iphobiacenter.org/
Nov 26-28. Chicago. 2026 Palestine Convention. https://palestineconvention.org/
Dec 5. Indianapolis. ISNA Unity Banquet. https://isna.tfaforms.net/58
Dec 10-13. Charlotte, NC. 22nd Annual Muslim Journal Conference. Register https://bit.ly/grateful2026
Jan 15-16. Mesa, CA. 15th Annual West Coast ISNA Education Forum. https://isna.net/upcoming-events/15th-annual-west-coast-isna-education-forum
Jan 30. Kansas City. PAMA's Annual Benefit Dinner. https://pamausa.org/events/kansas-city-evening-of-hope-and-impact/
Jan 30. Atlanta ISNA Day. https://isna.net/upcoming-events
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