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(RNS) — A record seven Muslims were elected to Congress, six to the House of Representatives and one to the Senate.

Early Wednesday (Nov. 4), Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Michigan Democrat, made history as the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. The son of Egyptian immigrants and a former public health official, the 42-year-old was repeatedly scrutinized and attacked for his faith. President Donald Trump labeled him a “jihadist” and claimed, without evidence, that El-Sayed was on the side of Muslim terrorist groups.

“Islamophobia backfired,” said Fatima Salman, a close childhood friend of El-Sayed who fundraised and campaigned for him.…