NEW YORK, January 1, 2026 – In a landmark event marking a new chapter in New York City’s diverse history, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th mayor shortly after midnight on January 1, placing his hand on a historic Quran from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This makes Mamdani the first Muslim to lead America’s largest city and the first NYC mayor to take the oath on the Quran.
The private ceremony, held in the decommissioned Old City Hall subway station—a nod to the city’s iconic infrastructure—featured Mamdani using an antique Quran from the Schomburg Center’s collection. The volume, a small leather-bound edition with Arabic text and a dedication page dated to 1906, symbolizes early 20th-century efforts to promote Islamic education in the U.S. The dedication reads: “Dedicated with sincere respect to President Laura… of the San Francisco Association to educate women with Islam. Buy one. 1/06.” Video footage shared by the NYPL shows a curator carefully handling the book, flipping through its aged pages to reveal ornate borders and script.
According to the NYPL, this “history-making moment” underscores the library’s role in preserving cultural artifacts that reflect New York’s multicultural fabric. The Quran will be publicly displayed starting January 6 in the McGraw Rotunda at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street, allowing residents to view the item firsthand. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and former state assemblyman from Queens, is also set to participate in a public inauguration on January 2, where he plans to use two family Qurans for additional ceremonial oaths.
Mamdani’s path to the mayoralty was unconventional and hard-fought. Running as a Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) candidate, he defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a surprising upset, framing his campaign around affordability and equity for working-class New Yorkers. In his victory speech on November 4, 2025, Mamdani declared, “We have toppled a political dynasty,” and outlined an ambitious agenda including rent freezes for over two million stabilized tenants, free and faster bus service, and universal child care—echoing progressive policies from the era of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia. He also addressed national tensions, vowing to resist potential federal overreach under President-elect Donald Trump, stating, “New York will remain a city of immigrants… To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
The inauguration has elicited a wide range of reactions, reflecting the city’s polarized political landscape. Supporters hail it as a triumph of inclusivity, with one commentator noting, “American history made today,” and praising Mamdani’s resilience against attacks on his faith and backgroun Critics, however, have voiced concerns over his progressive stance and foreign policy views, with some labeling him a “radical” and questioning his refusal to condemn certain pro-Palestinian rhetoric. Online discourse has been heated: posts celebrated the event as a “resounding slap in the face to Islamophobes,” while others decried it as “the beginning of the end,” citing unrelated incidents like street vendors playing Quranic recitations. Far-right voices have amplified fears of “Sharia Law” in NYC, though Mamdani has emphasized his commitment to the U.S. Constitution and serving all New Yorkers.
Mamdani, the son of Ugandan immigrants of South Asian descent, becomes the youngest NYC mayor in a century and the first South Asian to hold the office. His win follows a wave of diverse leadership in major cities, including Sadiq Khan in London, and comes amid broader discussions on immigration and urban policy. As he assumes office, Mamdani faces immediate challenges, including a housing crisis, public transit woes, and potential clashes with the incoming Trump administration over sanctuary city policies.
City officials and community leaders from various faiths have welcomed the symbolism of the Quran oath, viewing it as a step toward greater representation. “This is not only how we stop Trump; it’s how we stop the next one,” Mamdani said in his speech, positioning NYC as a beacon of resistance and renewal. With his term now underway, all eyes are on how Mamdani will translate his bold vision into action for the city’s 8.8 million residents.
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