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1. 

   Amer Rizvi

   October 11, 2026 at 8:21 AM

   I believe that a Muslim’s motivation for choosing a profession should be more than just financial stability or pleasing their parents.

   When it comes to becoming a lawyer, for example, I hope that one day young educated American Muslims will choose law for more noble reasons than simply wanting to meet the requirements of their Desi culture.

   Wouldn’t it be amazing if Muslim American lawyers offered free legal advice at their local Islamic community centers every weekend to vulnerable populations in the workforce?

   Imagine how much Allah would bless American Muslims because they looked out for the vulnerable in our land!

   I can tell you about my own experience when I wanted to sue my former school board for retaliation, workplace harassment, and discrimination.

   Fortunately, I ran into my beloved Shaykh, Dr. Yasir Qadhi, here in Virginia, where he had once come to give a religious talk.

   I asked the shaykh whether I should sue the school board now or wait until the Day of Judgment. The shaykh told me that the decision was entirely mine, “You have to make that decision.” He further advised me to get legal help.

   I decided to sue because I believed my case was primarily about protecting school children, a vulnerable population in our country.

   To find a lawyer, I first approached MAPS (Muslim Americans in Public Service), but its legal department was too small and disorganised to help me.

   I then went to CAIR for legal representation, as many Muslims advised me.

   CAIR acknowledged that my case had merit, but explained that it received a large volume of complaints and could not accept every case, encouraging me to consult another attorney.

   Taking that advice, I then decided to seek help from a private Muslim attorney, despite having been advised to stay away from Muslim lawyers.

   I obtained a list of well-known Muslim attorneys in America. As I looked down that list, I was struck by how few practiced civil rights law.

   Most of the lawyers were corporate or immigration lawyers, probably, and sadly, why they wanted to become lawyers in the first place, desiness!

   Thankfully, I found a civil rights attorney on the list recognised by “Super Lawyers.” I scheduled a half-hour consultation costing $250.

   The appointment was set for 4:00 p.m., and I sent their law office all my case materials in advance. I headed for my local library, reserved a room, and waited for the online consultation.

   About 15 minutes after 4:00 p.m., I contacted the law office to remind them of my appointment.

   Soon after, I saw some movement on the screen. A topi, a South Asian skullcap, bobbed up from the bottom of my laptop screen, accompanied by a gentleman sporting a magnificent beard.

   But then the head suddenly descended, leaving only the topi visible.

   The attorney began asking me about the fundamentals of my case, which I found strange because I had already sent him all the relevant materials.

   He offered little concrete legal advice. Much of what he said struck me as common sense. He didn’t seem enthused about my case and advised me that my priority now should be looking for a job.

   I asked whether I could at least write publicly about my experience. He informed me how many dollars they charge to review such writing. He then stated that my 30 minutes of consultation time were now over.

   Disgusted with the experience, I turned to non-Muslim lawyers.

   Thankfully, they offered concrete legal advice without even charging me for the initial consultations, though their retainers were substantial at $20,000 to $30,000 up front.

   I ended up suing the school board myself, thanks to the ChatGPT app on my cell phone. It was not easy, though, as I was up against an institution with access to highly experienced lawyers.

   Nevertheless, I managed to hold my own, successfully oppose their motion to dismiss, and pursue my case to the federal appeals court.

   My experience reinforced my belief that we need more Muslim American lawyers who are motivated by a genuine desire to serve others and advance justice.

   There is nothing wrong with earning a good living so you can have a comfy life in the suburbs.

   But I hope more young American Muslims will see law not merely as a path to financial success or a way to fulfill their parents’ expectations, but as an opportunity to defend civil rights and help vulnerable people in our land obtain justice.

   Thank you and جزاكم الله خيرا

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