New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Takes Oath Touching the Holy Quran

New York City witnessed a historic moment on Thursday as Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor, becoming the city’s first Muslim and South Asian–descended leader. Mamdani took his oath of office with his hand on the Holy Quran, marking a first in the city’s history.

According to a report by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, Mamdani used two Qurans during the oath-taking process—one preserved by his grandfather and another nearly 200-year-old historical copy borrowed from the New York Public Library (NYPL).

A private oath ceremony was held at an abandoned subway station beneath Times Square, where both Qurans were present. An official public swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday at New York City Hall, where Mamdani plans to use Qurans preserved by his grandparents.

The historic Quran borrowed from the NYPL was once part of the personal collection of renowned African-American historian and writer Arturo Schomburg. In 1926, Schomburg sold his extensive archive of nearly 4,000 books and manuscripts to the New York Public Library, forming the foundation of what later became the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Born in Puerto Rico in the 1870s, Schomburg later immigrated to New York and played a pivotal role in the Harlem Renaissance during the 1920s and 1930s—a period marked by a profound cultural and intellectual awakening within the Black community.

The New York Public Library said Mamdani’s choice of the Quran reflects the legacy of one of the city’s most influential thinkers and underscores a broader message of inclusion and representation. Library officials noted that the small size and simple design of the manuscript suggest it was intended for everyday use. Based on its calligraphy and binding, experts believe it was printed in the 19th century in the region of Ottoman Syria.

Hiba Abid, curator of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at NYPL, said the significance of the Quran goes beyond its aesthetic value. “It is a deeply personal, accessible text that represents ordinary people and is part of the nation’s largest public library system,” she said.

NYPL President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony W. Marx described Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran as a powerful symbol of civic values, inclusion and representation.

While New York City does not require mayors to swear their oath on any religious text, many have traditionally used the Bible. Former mayor Michael Bloomberg once took his oath on a century-old family Bible, while Bill de Blasio used a Bible once owned by former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, also used a family Bible.

Only a small number of U.S. politicians have taken their oath of office on the Quran, making Mamdani’s swearing-in a notable milestone in the city’s political and cultural history.