Zohran Mamdani made history as the first New York City mayor to take the oath of office on the Holy Quran. He used two Qurans: one belonging to his grandfather and another 200-year-old copy on loan from the New York Public Library (NYPL).
Mamdani took part in a private swearing‑in ceremony at a disused subway station beneath Times Square. At the public inauguration at New York City Hall, he plans to use again copies of the Quran once owned by his grandfather and grandmother.
Mamdani is the first Muslim and first South Asian to lead the United States’ largest city. His choice of religious text reflects not only his own background as a Ugandan-born American of South Asian descent, but also a broader message about inclusion in public life.
The historic Quran once belonged to Arturo Schomburg, a pioneering Black historian and writer, whose vast personal collection of books and manuscripts became the foundation of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.
The library described Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran as fitting, given its connection to one of New York’s most influential scholars and its humble, everyday character. The small volume, written in black and red ink, appears to have been intended for regular personal use.
While undated and unsigned, its fine naskh script and ornate binding, with a gilt medallion and floral design, suggest it was produced in Ottoman Syria in the 19th century.
New York law does not require mayors to place their hand on any religious text when taking the oath, but many have chosen to do so with a Bible. Former mayor Michael Bloomberg used a century-old family Bible, Bill de Blasio opted for a Bible associated with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Eric Adams was sworn in on his family Bible as well.