Mamdani’s oath Quran to be displayed at New York Public Library
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said one of the Qurans he used to take his oath of office will be placed on public display at the main branch of the New York Public Library.
Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, announced the move on Tuesday.
The Quran dates back to the 18th century and once belonged to Black scholar and activist Arturo Schomburg.
Mamdani said the manuscript was copied in Ottoman Syria and written in black ink with red markings that indicate divisions in the text. He noted that the Quran lacks ornate decoration, suggesting it was intended for everyday use.
Mamdani said he used the Quran during a private midnight oath ceremony held last week at the old City Hall subway station. Writing on X, he said the manuscript now belongs to all New Yorkers as part of the city’s next chapter.
The Quran went on display on January 6 at the McGraw Rotunda in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street. The display includes photographs from Mamdani’s oath ceremony, images of the manuscript, and a photograph of Schomburg. Signage describes the item as “The People’s Qur’an” and notes its role in making history at City Hall.
New York Public Library President Anthony Marx said the Quran symbolizes inclusion, representation, and civic-mindedness. The manuscript was loaned from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which houses materials collected by Schomburg and acquired by the library in 1926.