Alabama Muslims Respond to Tuberville’s Call to Ban Sharia Law

Recently, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville called for a nationwide ban on Sharia Law on the floor of the Senate. He cited the ongoing threat of Islamic extremism and said “Sharia Law is anti-American and has no place in a free society. If you believe that Sharia Law supersedes American law, you should be deported immediately.”

Tuberville went on to say that, “If you want to come here legally, practice a peaceful version of Islam, and blend into our society by adopting the treasured American values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, you are welcome to do so.”

In 2014, Alabama passed the “American and Alabama Laws for Alabama Courts Amendment,” which barred courts from applying “foreign law”—including Sharia—when it conflicts with Alabama’s public policy or constitutional rights.

Despite Sen. Tuberville’s acknowledgment that peaceful Muslims who support American values are welcome, local Muslims expressed their concerns about the overall tone of his statement. 

Dr. Nasim Uddin, President of the Birmingham Islamic Society said,

“Senator Tuberville’s comments reflect a misunderstanding of what sharia actually means. Sharia is not a foreign legal code or a threat to American law—it’s a personal and spiritual framework that guides how Muslims live with faith and integrity.”

Tanvir Papa, in an Opinion piece for ALPolitics.com, emphasized that, “The Arabic word literally means "the path." For American Muslims, it's a personal moral compass: daily prayer, charity, honesty in business, caring for family, serving neighbors. Our scholars describe its aims simply: protect life, faith, intellect, family, property, and human dignity. This isn't a rival legal code waiting to overtake U.S. law; it's an ethical framework for how we try to live decent and honorable peaceful lives.”

Other members of Birmingham’s Muslim community also expressed some degree of trepidation over the Senator’s remarks. Most were unwilling to be quoted, for various reasons. However, some were willing to speak on the record.

Alabama native Monica Khalaf said:

“Senator Tuberville is mistaken and misinformed and is acting in a manner that will put a target on Muslims backs, especially hijab-wearing women like myself, my daughter and daughters-in-law. 

“He is fear mongering by saying that Muslims are attempting to enact Sharia law anywhere in the USA as the pervading law for all. As long as we are not breaking any US law or infringing upon anyone else’s rights—which, by the way, is a requirement in Islamic sharia (law), to obey the law of the land in which we live—in other words, to be good and honest citizens and neighbors and business people. 

“Only about 3% of the Quran speaks about Sharia, commands and prohibitions for Muslims to conduct themselves by. The other 97% tells Muslims how to conduct ourselves morally in our relationships with our Muslim and non-Muslim families, neighbours, business transactions, etc. 

“Our Senators and other representatives should turn their attention to the real needs and threats in communities. They should stop voting to send our tax dollars to other countries, focus on reopening our government, bringing down the cost of living and insurance, bolstering our education system for all Alabamians, and much more. 

“Quite frankly, I don’t see how he has time to create problems where none exist, when so many Alabamians deal with the reality of these daily struggles,” Khalaf finished.

Stacy Abdein told ALPolitics.com that: 

“As an American Muslim and educator, I find Senator Tuberville’s comments deeply disappointing and based on misunderstanding. For most Muslims, sharia isn’t about politics or law—it’s a personal guide for living with faith, integrity, and compassion. Our faith teaches us to respect the laws of the land we live in and to be good, contributing citizens. What our country needs most right now is understanding, not fear, and a renewed focus on the shared values that bring us together.”

Hoover resident and former candidate for Hoover City Council Tanveer Patel said that:

“American Muslims condemn terrorism as strongly as anyone—perhaps more so, because terrorists have distorted our faith and made us targets of suspicion. Groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda represent Islam no more than the KKK represents Christianity. We’ve repeatedly condemned Hamas, ISIS, al-Qaeda, and every form of violent extremism, yet our voices are ignored when rhetoric like this paints all Muslims with the same broad brush,” Patel said.

“The reality is that Muslims already live under U.S. law. No American Muslim community is seeking to impose sharia on anyone else or replace the Constitution. In fact, Islamic teaching requires us to respect and follow the law of the land we live in. When Jewish Americans use rabbinical courts for religious disputes, or Christians follow biblical principles in their personal lives, no one questions their loyalty to America. Muslims deserve the same respect,” she concluded.

Tanveer Patel has personal experience with the prejudice Alabama Muslims face, having received death threats during her City Council campaign. Despite this, she has worked for many years to improve Alabama, most recently by organizing a second Rotary Club in Hoover, the Rotary Club of Greater Hoover.

The threat posed by Islamic extremism is very real, and affects all Alabamians. The concern of Alabama’s Muslim community—that they will be tarred with the broad brush of fanatic extremists—hangs over their heads every day.

Senator Tuberville’s full remarks may be read HERE, or seen on Rumble or YouTube.

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