New York: Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to make history as he takes his midnight oath of office on a centuries-old Quran, marking the first time a mayor of New York City will use Islam’s holy text to be sworn in.
When the 34-year-old Democrat assumes office in a ceremony at a long-closed subway station beneath City Hall, he will become the first Muslim, first South Asian, and first African-born person to lead the United States' most populous city.
Mamdani will place his hand on two Qurans during the midnight subway ceremony: a personal heirloom belonging to his grandfather and a pocket-sized version dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century. The latter is part of the collection at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
According to Hiba Abid, the library’s curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, the historic manuscript, likely produced during the Ottoman period, is modest in design, suggesting it was intended for everyday use rather than ceremonial display. "The importance of this Quran lies not in luxury, but in accessibility," Abid noted.
Following the inauguration, the historic Quran will go on public display at the New York Public Library. For a subsequent ceremonial swearing-in at City Hall on New Year's Day, Mamdani will use Qurans belonging to both his grandfather and grandmother.
While the oath to uphold the constitution does not require a religious text, Mamdani’s choice has drawn both praise for its inclusivity and criticism from conservative voices. US Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama criticised the move on social media, stating, "The enemy is inside the gates", a comment that follows a campaign season marked by a surge in Islamophobic rhetoric.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist who campaigned heavily on affordability, addressed the hostility in a speech days before the election.
“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.”
(Inputs from AP)