Success is not a gift that is given, nor an inheritance that is passed down; rather, it is the result of immense effort and tireless work day and night. This is what the lives of Muslim immigrants confirm, as they have gained the world's trust with their impressive achievements for humanity, overcoming the challenges of being in a foreign land and the arrogant illusions of superiority ingrained in the mind of the white man.
In the following lines, “Al-Mujtama” highlights some success stories of inspiring young Arabs and Muslims who have achieved remarkable successes.
- A Palestinian Refugee Contributes to COVID-19 Treatment:
From the Al-Nayrab camps in Aleppo, Palestinian refugee Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Zidan graduated with distinction in biochemistry in Syria. After the revolution broke out, he migrated to Lebanon and volunteered with the Palestinian Red Crescent Organization. However, like all Palestinian refugees, Zidan continued to suffer from harsh living conditions, prompting him to migrate to Brazil to continue his academic journey.
Zidan mastered the Brazilian language in just 14 months and had his degree recognized by the Federal University of Viçosa. He worked as a cashier in a restaurant before opening his own restaurant to cover his expenses. However, his scientific dream persisted. He joined a company specializing in drug production and oversaw a project for an international American company to connect advanced analysis devices. Since then, Zidan has been known for his expertise and joined the Brazilian government-run Butantan Institute, the largest research institution in the field of vaccines in South America. Thanks to his achievements, he obtained permanent membership in the Higher Council of Chemistry and contributes to the production of vaccines against viruses, including the coronavirus.
- An Arab in the European Society of Cardiology:
Egyptian doctor Hatem Suleiman, a critical care consultant, received recognition and membership from the European Society of Cardiology, an honor awarded annually to three experts worldwide in appreciation of their efforts.
Suleiman graduated from Alexandria University, specialized in critical care medicine, then moved to the UK, where he worked at Harefield Hospital, where Dr. Magdi Yacoub performed the first open-heart surgery. He stated that his dream is still to provide Middle Eastern doctors with updates in this field, especially with the high rates of heart disease.
- The First Muslim to Lead a British Party:
Two years ago, the name of young politician and dentist Anas Sarwar, along with a picture of him and his hijabi wife, filled the front pages of international media, as he became the first Muslim to lead a political party in Britain, the Scottish Labour Party, overcoming his British competitors.
Sarwar was born into a Pakistani Muslim family. His father was the first Muslim Member of Parliament in Britain for the Labour Party. Anas first worked in medicine before moving into parliament and political participation. He was promoted within the Labour Party and elected on the “MSP” list for Glasgow in 2016. He focused on safety issues at the Royal Hospital and was investigated. He also worked to overcome societal issues of racism and discrimination against non-whites, receiving death threats for himself and his family, which includes three children. After leading the party in 2017, he faced discrimination, being told it was due to his religion and skin color. Consequently, Sarwar founded a coalition to combat Islamophobia in Parliament in 2018 and eventually led the party in 2021.
- The First Hijabi in the Australian Parliament:
Fatima Payman, with Afghani origin, is the first hijabi member in the history of the Australian Parliament. She is a former member of the Labour Party and an advocate for Palestinian rights, having resigned from the Labour Party to become an independent senator due to the party's stance on Gaza.
Payman's grandfather was a member of the Afghan parliament but was forced to migrate. Her father worked in small jobs to provide a decent life for his family, initially moving to Pakistan and then to Australia, where the family was reunited. Payman recounted how she would listen to her father talk about his dreams for the children of their homeland during dinner, but he passed away from cancer after a long struggle. She joined the Labour Party to defend workers' rights, like her father.
- Dalia Mogahed: A Rising Muslim Influencer:
“80% of news coverage about Muslims is negative,” stated Dalia Mogahed, a former advisor to former US President Barack Obama and one of the most influential women in the Arab world.
Mogahed's prominence rose after a series of lectures on the conditions of Arabs and Muslims post-9/11 and the wave of Islamophobia that swept the West, blending it with her personal life. She is an Egyptian researcher with a degree in chemical engineering but has dedicated herself to studying the conditions of Muslims. She is currently the executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and holds memberships in prominent centers for Islamic-Western communication.
- The Educational Platform Khan Academy Conquering the World:
In 2008, Indian-American Salman Khan from Louisiana started helping his cousin with math lessons through simple video tutorials. A diligent young man, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in mathematics, then earned two master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. Khan did not know that his simple channel would transform into a global educational platform, revolutionizing remote learning, especially in scientific subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
Khan's dream was to build a free global virtual school. He learned how to design and record lessons simply and collaborated with major educational platforms like the College Board to make the content more interactive with students and responsive to their questions and feedback. Khan Academy became a refuge for students during the coronavirus pandemic, especially in exceptional circumstances across Africa and Asia.
Bill Gates, the Microsoft giant, urged the world to listen to Khan's story on the TED platform. The notable aspect is that the institution is non-profit, relying on donations, internet ads, and nominal subscriptions. TIME magazine named Khan Academy's founder among the 100 most influential people in our lives.
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