Claim that Abdul El-Sayed is using 'Taqiyya' to lie to voters is baseless?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @whitesquirrelmagic

The Reel's assertion that Abdul El-Sayed is practicing 'Taqiyya' to lie to voters rests on a distorted anti-Muslim trope that redefines an Islamic doctrine of self-preservation. Scholarship cited by ABC Religion & Ethics and CfMM defines taqiyya as a dispensation to conceal one's faith under threat of persecution or death, not a license to lie for political gain. The speaker offers no evidence that El-Sayed has engaged in deception, while El-Sayed maintains that his faith personalizes his public service platform focused on healthcare and economic issues.

2 claims checked
5 sources
Checked 8 Nov 2026
Main source: Medina | Encyclopedia

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The Reel we checked

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What we checked

The speaker claims Muhammad exiled two Jewish tribes from Medina and beheaded around 600 men of the third tribe while enslaving women and children.“the population of Medina consisted mostly of Jewish tribes... concerned about the effect of such vehement opposition, Muhammad began to expel the Jewish tribes”Medina | Encyclopedia + 1 more

On-screen text asks: 'IS ABDUL EL-SAYED PRACTICING TAQIYYA?'No reliable source found for this yet.

Connected

The same claim was checked in another Reel (@mrpoliticalpeach, 2026-09-17): “Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina during the Hijra.”, found true (see it)

Our read of the video

The video shows a live outdoor table panel discussion featuring a speaker addressing interviewers with a microphone.

An AI assessment from the footage alone; watch the video and judge for yourself.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

The established theological definition of taqiyya as a narrow legal dispensation for self-preservation under threat of death or persecution, as well as El-Sayed's documented focus on civic issues like health care and economic policy.
Abdul El-Sayed stated that his faith shapes his progressive views on issues like health care and groceries, and that he would never push Sharia law on anyone else (Fox News, New York Times).
El-Sayed explained that his faith teaches him to speak the truth even against himself and pledged to protect all communities from hatred (The New York Times).

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “The speaker claims that Muslim political figure Abdul El-Sayed is using a religious concept called Taqiyya to lie about his beliefs and gain power, drawing parallels to early Islamic history in Medina.”

The conclusion relies on a distorted definition of taqiyya as a political deception tactic and provides no factual evidence that Abdul El-Sayed is lying about his political platform or beliefs.

Short version

🚫 BASELESS 👉 Accusations that Abdul El-Sayed uses "taqiyya" to lie to voters are baseless and rely on a distorted anti-Muslim trope. 👉 Scholarship cited by ABC Religion & Ethics and CfMM defines taqiyya as concealing faith under threat of persecution, not a license to lie for political gain. 📰 Sources: Cfmm, ABC 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat