The incoming mayor uses a symbolic version of New York City history; To use two family Qurans in public ceremonies on Friday.
The first Muslim and South Asian mayor of the United States’ largest metropolis, Mamdani used his grandfather’s Quran and a 200-year-old copy borrowed from the New York Public Library (NYPL) for the private swearing-in ceremony held at a disused subway station beneath Times Square.
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He then planned to use two copies of the Quran that belonged to his grandfather and grandmother for a day-long ceremony at New York City Hall on Friday.
The historic Quran, on loan from the library, once belonged to Arturo Schomburg, a black historian and author who sold his collection of 4,000 books to the NYPL in 1926. His collection became the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Schomburg was born in Puerto Rico in the 1870s to parents of German and Afro-Caribbean descent. He later moved to New York and was a major player in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s—a period of intense cultural and intellectual flourishing within New York’s black community.
The Library praised Mamdani’s decision to use Schomburg’s Quran due to its association with “one of New York’s foremost scholars and its simple, functional qualities”.
The library said the Quran’s small size and its black and red ink suggest it was designed for everyday use. The edition is neither signed nor dated, but its “minute naskh script and its binding, which includes a gilt-stamped medallion filled with a floral composition, suggest that it was made in Ottoman Syria in the 19th century”, the library said.
“The importance of this Quran goes beyond the beauty of its pages,” said Hiba Abid, curator of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies. “This is the Quran close to the people not only because of its simple craftsmanship, but also because it is part of the collection of the country’s largest public library system.”
Anthony W. Marks, president and CEO of the library, said the selection of Curran and its association with Schomburg “symbolizes a larger story of inclusion, representation and civic-mindedness”.
Mamdani is one of the few American politicians who took the oath with the Quran. Mayors in New York are not required to take the oath of office by placing their hands on a religious scripture, but several past mayors have used a copy of the Bible.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg used a 100-year-old family Bible during a ceremony, while Mayor Bill de Blasio used a Bible that once belonged to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mamdani’s predecessor, Mayor Eric Adams, also used the family Bible for his oath.
Mamdani’s faith and her background as a Ugandan-born American of South Asian descent were front and center during her campaign, which focused on celebrating New York’s diversity.
In the viral social media video, Mamdani also spoke candidly about the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and the subsequent rise in Islamophobia in the US. Other videos depict the everyday experiences of New Yorkers, including its many Muslim and immigrant communities.
Mamdani has also been a strong critic of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians and its genocidal war on Gaza.
Critics such as New York Representative Elise Stefanik emphasized Mamdani’s background as a Democratic socialist and leftist politics, and called the incoming mayor a “jihadi communist” and a “terrorist” sympathizer.
However, Mamdani pledged to never hide from his background during a campaign speech. He said during his campaign, “I wouldn’t change who I am, how I eat, or the beliefs I’m proud to call mine.” “I will no longer find myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.”
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