“Say: Travel through the Earth and deeply observe how God did originate the creation; then God produces the next creation; surely God has power over all things” (Qur’an 29:19-20)

Welcome and May the peace and blessings of God be upon you.

"You don’t get to be in your bubble, you can’t pretend that oppression of those around don’t exist because you don’t feel it.”

JIHAN AIYASH

What do you do?

“I serve as a Board of Education Trustee for Hamtramck Public Schools. I ran a campaign as a write-in candidate against an incumbent. Write-in campaigns usually do not go well for candidates and I had no time to raise funds. I spent $0 on my campaign and beat my opponent with more than double the votes. I became the first Yemeni woman elected official in Michigan and the second in the nation. My strategy was to relational organize. The district was unique in that it was small and tight knit, so there was a lot of personal outreach, texting/calling every person I could think of. Posting all my campaign efforts on social media. Knocking on my neighbors doors to let them know I was running.”

What do you love about your job?

“I’m a voice for the people. The Board of Ed had been entirely white [and mostly male] for a very long time. There is no issue with whiteness, there is an issue with a majority brown/black district being represented by white folx. At one point there was one black member who passed away. Within the last 6 years, the board shifted to having some brown representation. The board was still majority male and me being elected was empowering to the young girls and women in my district. For the first time in the district’s history, girls that looked like me- visibly Muslim and ethnic- saw that we are not bystanders in our own story. Positions of power are not reserved for white saviors. We can be our own representatives and our own spokespersons.

“They felt empowered to come to me with their concerns. Our district needs quite a few improvements- we are not a high performing district but we have the potential to be. it wasn’t a magnet school, and the people didn’t know who to reach out to. The principal was not listening, or the teacher was not accommodating prayer, etc. Students and parents started approaching me with concerns. They became more vocal about the weak curricula, the limited after school programs, the language barriers, and so much more! I didn’t realize how just existing in a position of power empowers constituents. Don’t underestimate what you’re doing.”

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.” Qur’an (33:70)

What do you not like about your job?

“Serving with colleagues who have different intentions than you. When you’re a college student and join an org, there is a central purpose for joining and there is a level of teamwork expected. You don’t have to like that person but you get along with them. In public office, this is not always the case. Even though a Board of Ed is non-partisan, everyone has their own purpose for running for office. Some of my colleagues are business owners and see the district as an essential part of their business strategy. Some of my colleagues have kids that go to charter and private schools in the area so they have conflicting interests. Some of my colleagues just want to ‘maintain tradition.’

“Every 2 years, my district has an election because we shifted to 6 year terms. This means that people don’t leave and come in at once. You don’t start or end your term with the same people. When you finally get a rhythm going, you get a new colleague. I am the youngest board member; everyone else is 30+ years old and set it in their ways. I had to learn that there is no standard for communication and people are reluctant to try new things. Despite these challenges I still wouldn’t trade in my role for anything.”

What role does faith play in your career?

“I have an obligation as a Muslim to be responsible for the society in which I live. You don’t get to stay in your bubble, as the model minority, and pretend that oppression of those around don’t exist because you aren’t directly impacted. The impact is real for non-black POCs (people of color) too. In weekend Qu’ran school, I learned that I’m responsible for justice. Justice for my friends and family, Justice for my neighbors. Justice for my colleagues. So I started doing grassroots work through community and social orgs. I tried to avoid politics though. And for the longest time I did ignore politics. But, I realized in grad school that I wouldn’t be as effective if I didn't get into it. It's impossible to be apolitical. You just can’t let people write policy about you, without you, and think you don’t need to know it. These policies are affecting you, and your black, and non-black POC neighbors. It’s impossible to be apolitical as a person of color. If I had gotten involved politically early in my life, I would have been more effective as a vessel for justice. It’s okay that I’m learning in my mid-20s.”

“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” Qur’an (16:90)

How does your job make you a better Muslim/more spiritual?

“I’m adamant that I’m responsible for my own actions. I carry that with me a lot. If I did something wrong, I'm held accountable and I’m fine with that. It doesn’t matter how it’s perceived as long as I know what i’m doing. However, I realize this is not true technically. There is a hadith about it being better to explain yourself and avoid being misconstrued than to have folx assume things about you. This is true especially in the public sphere. Especially as an elected official. The optics of your actions are more important than the actual action. I have to be conscious about my day to day actions. I wanted to make sure some things were not misconstrued about me, and used to oppress young girls or women. For example, I love bold and bright lipsticks, but when I got sworn into office, I cut back on wearing them in co-ed spaces. There is nothing wrong with bright lipstick, but if someone will look at me and go “see how wild she is? This is why I don’t allow you to xyz” then the bright lipstick is not worth wearing to meetings. I am a public figure now, and I am still responsible for my own actions-it’s just now my actions are affecting others directly and indirectly.

“This role made me have more akhlak and adab (character and manners). In many state level and national level events/conferences/meetings I am the first Muslim many people meet. If I am your first Muslim interaction, I will be a learning lesson for you. You will not shake my hand or hug me as a person of the opposite gender. I’m conscious about having boundaries respected. When we have a meeting from 6-10pm, I’m adamant about taking recess for prayer. Your actions do have implications for people that look like you. Be mindful. I never really grasped this until this role. You are taught about certain mannerisms, your behaviors are a part of your faith. I want to be more responsible. I don't want to be the one person that prevents another Muslim woman from reaching their potential/ambition because of me and my behavior.

“This role also made me have stronger convictions on the pursuit of justice. Especially at expulsion hearings. The Board of Ed decides if a student gets expelled. Once you’re expelled, you’re not welcome to any public school for a full academic calendar year. A student’s future is in the hands of the board. Expulsions are systemic ways to hinder students of color. I can’t be a part of a system that hurts students, especially black/brown kids. I have to be mindful of the choices I make. I’d rather go down alone knowing that I didn't agree to a policy or decision of my board.”

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.”

Qur’an (4:135)

What do you want people to know about your career?

“I highly encourage people to go into political office, but look into the role they want. If it’s a partisan position, you have to build your name up in the party you are filing under. Gain some insight on the job by working or volunteering on candidate campaigns. I learned about campaigning from working on campaigns. There is nothing like experience, getting your feet wet. There is no universal structure to campaigns. It’s run based on the demographics you're trying to reach. Local campaigns will not have the same access to fundraising or manpower- so be prepared to do more work.

“Don’t underestimate the position you’re looking into. For a lot of positions, the same candidate running wins because no one ever runs against them, so it’s the same person who gets the seat term after term. There are so many positions available because people just don’t know about them. We’re not taught about these things. Don’t assume that tokenizing yourself will work. You have to have a real platform and know your issues. People do none of that hard work preparing and try to win. You have to take it seriously.”

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” Qur’an (13:11)

“We pass through this world but once. Few tragedies can be more extensive than the stunting of life, few injustices deeper than the denial of an opportunity to strive or even to hope, by a limit imposed from without, but falsely identified as lying within.” Stephen Jay Gould

For more information:

Jihan Aiyash

More on Jihan: https://yemeniamerican.com/en/jihan-aiyash-1st-yemeni-american-woman-elected-to-public-office-in-michigan/

Nagamia Institute of Islamic Medicine and Science: https://www.niims.org

1001 Inventions: the Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization: http://www.1001inventions.com