New York City: Zohran Mamdani has made history by becoming the first mayor of New York City to be sworn in using a Quran, marking a landmark moment for representation in the United States’ largest city.
The first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York, Mamdani, used two Qurans for a private swearing-in ceremony held at a disused subway station beneath Times Square. One was his grandfather’s personal Quran, while the other was a nearly 200-year-old copy loaned by the New York Public Library (NYPL).
A second public ceremony is scheduled to take place at New York City Hall, where Mamdani plans to use two Qurans that belonged to his grandfather and grandmother.
The historic Quran, borrowed from the NYPL, once belonged to Arturo Schomburg, a renowned Black historian, writer and activist whose personal collection formed the foundation of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Schomburg, born in Puerto Rico in the 1870s to parents of German and Afro-Caribbean descent, later immigrated to New York and became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s.
The library noted that Mamdani’s choice of the Schomburg Quran was significant due to its deep connection to one of New York’s most influential scholars and its practical, everyday character. According to the NYPL, the Quran’s small size and use of black and red ink suggest it was designed for regular personal use. While the edition is neither signed nor dated, its fine naskh script and ornate binding indicate it was likely produced in Ottoman Syria in the 19th century.
Hiba Abid, curator of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at the NYPL, said the Quran’s importance goes beyond its physical beauty. NYPL president and CEO Anthony W Marx added that Mamdani’s decision symbolised a greater story of inclusion, representation, and civic-mindedness.
While New York City does not require mayors to place their hand on a religious text during the oath of office, many past mayors have traditionally used a Bible. Former mayor Michael Bloomberg once used a century-old family Bible, while Bill de Blasio used a Bible that belonged to former US president Franklin D Roosevelt. Outgoing mayor Eric Adams also took his oath on a family Bible.
Mamdani is among a small number of US politicians to be sworn in using the Quran. His faith and background as a Ugandan-born American of South Asian descent were central to his mayoral campaign, which emphasised New York’s diversity and multicultural identity.
In widely shared campaign videos, Mamdani spoke openly about growing up Muslim in post-9/11 America and the rise of Islamophobia in the United States. He also highlighted the lived experiences of immigrant and Muslim communities across the city.
A vocal critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and the war in Gaza, Mamdani faced sharp attacks from political opponents. New York Representative Elise Stefanik and other critics targeted his faith and democratic socialist politics, using inflammatory language to portray him as an extremist.
Mamdani repeatedly rejected such attacks, vowing not to conceal his identity or beliefs. His swearing-in ceremony, blending personal heritage with New York’s layered history, has been widely seen as a symbolic moment reflecting the city’s evolving political and cultural landscape.
MOST READ | Fireworks light up the world as New Year 2026 arrives
