Siraj Wahhaj, who previously donated to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign and even posted a video endorsement, has recently come under scrutiny due to his associations. As several news outlets prepared stories linking Mamdani to Wahhaj’s network, Mamdani preemptively addressed the issue by tweeting a photo of himself with the imam.
Mamdani appears confident about his political prospects, but the broader concern is the normalization of extreme elements within Islam. So, what exactly is Mamdani normalizing by aligning himself with Wahhaj?
An examination of Wahhaj’s public statements and profile sheds light on this question. According to our Discover the Networks profile of Wahhaj, he has urged U.S. Muslims to become politically active—not merely to engage in American civic life, but as a strategic means to amplify the influence of their faith. Wahhaj has said:
> “As long as you remember that if you get involved in politics, you have to be very careful that your leader is for Allah. You don’t get involved in politics because it’s the American thing to do. You get involved in politics because politics are a weapon to use in the cause of Islam.”
In a 1992 sermon delivered at his Al-Taqwa mosque, Wahhaj explicitly emphasized the importance of jihad:
> “I will never ever tell people, ‘don’t be violent, that is not the Islamic way.’ The violence has to be selected…. Islam is the only answer because it is only Islam that we do it for Allah…. [We are] commanded to do jihad….”
Additionally, during an autumn 1992 address at an Islamic gathering in New Jersey, Wahhaj expressed his vision for a future United States governed under an Islamic caliphate, replacing the existing constitutional government:
> “If we were united and strong, we’d elect our own emir [leader] and give allegiance to him…. [T]ake my word, if 6-8 million Muslims unite in America, the country will come to us.”
This record reflects the ideology Mamdani is implicitly associating with through his ties to Wahhaj. Understanding these connections is critical for voters and citizens as they evaluate the implications of Mamdani’s political rise.
http://www.ruthfullyyours.com/2025/10/19/mamdani-poses-with-unindicted-wtc-bombing-co-conspirator-if-6-8-million-muslims-unite-in-america-the-country-will-come-to-us-by-daniel-greenfield/