- Mamdani Makes History as First NYC Mayor to Take Oath on Quran
- The NYPL praised Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran
- The historic Quran loaned by the NYPL once belonged to Arturo Schomburg
Zohran Mamdani on Thursday became the first New York City mayor to be sworn in using the Quran, marking a historic moment in the political and cultural life of the United States’ largest city.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Mamdani, the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York City, used two Qurans during a private swearing-in ceremony held at a disused subway station beneath Times Square.
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One copy belonged to his grandfather, while the second was a 200-year-old Quran borrowed from the New York Public Library (NYPL).
He is scheduled to use two additional Qurans, previously owned by his grandfather and grandmother, for a public daytime inauguration ceremony at New York City Hall on Friday.
The historic Quran loaned by the NYPL once belonged to Arturo Schomburg, a renowned Black historian, writer, and intellectual whose personal collection formed the foundation of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Schomburg sold his collection of approximately 4,000 books to the library in 1926.
Born in Puerto Rico in the 1870s to parents of German and Afro-Caribbean descent, Schomburg later immigrated to New York and became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual flourishing within the city’s Black community during the 1920s and 1930s.
The NYPL praised Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran, describing it as a symbol connected to one of New York’s “most groundbreaking scholars” and noting its simple, functional design.
According to the library, the Quran’s compact size and use of black and red ink suggest it was intended for daily use. While the edition is unsigned and undated, its minute naskh script and decorative binding indicate it was likely produced in Ottoman Syria in the 19th century.
“The significance of this Quran extends far beyond the beauty of its pages,” said Hiba Abid, curator of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at the NYPL. “It is a Quran close to the people and part of the collections of the nation’s largest public library system.”
NYPL President and CEO Anthony W. Marx said the choice of Quran symbolised “a greater story of inclusion, representation, and civic-mindedness.”
Although New York City does not require mayors to swear their oath on a religious text, many past mayors have chosen to do so. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg once used a century-old family Bible, while Bill de Blasio took his oath with a Bible that belonged to former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mamdani’s immediate predecessor, Eric Adams, also used a family Bible.
Mamdani’s faith and background as a Ugandan-born American of South Asian descent featured prominently during his campaign, which emphasised New York’s diversity.
In viral campaign videos, he addressed the impact of the September 11 attacks and the rise of Islamophobia in the United States, while also highlighting the experiences of immigrant and Muslim communities.
A vocal critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians, Mamdani has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents. Some, including New York Representative Elise Stefanik, attacked his background and left-wing politics, labelling him a “jihadist Communist” and a sympathiser of terrorism.
Mamdani has consistently rejected such characterisations. During the campaign, he pledged to remain open about his identity and beliefs.
“I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I’m proud to call my own,” he said. “I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.”
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