New York’s First Islamic Mayor Displaying Quran

New York City’s new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, announced on Tuesday that a Quran, which he used during his swearing-in, will be showcased at the main branch of the New York Public Library.

In a post on X, Mamdani mentioned that the Quran is linked to an 18th-century black scholar and activist, Arturo Schomburg. He expressed, “Last week, when I took the oath at midnight in the Old City Hall metro station, I had the honor of taking the oath based on Arturo Schomburg’s 18th-century Quran.”

Mamdani described the manuscript as a straightforward copy made in Ottoman Syria, written in black ink, with red highlights for text breaks. He emphasized its accessibility, saying, “There are no flourishes; it belongs to the everyday reader, and now it belongs to every New Yorker as part of our city’s next chapter.”

The library’s display features not just the Quran but also photographs of Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, taken during a private swearing-in ceremony led by New York State Attorney General Letitia James on New Year’s Day. Alongside the Quran, there’s a close-up view of Mamdani’s hand resting on it, and a statue of Schomburg is also included.

This Quran is part of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s collection, as noted by the New York Public Library.

Beginning January 6, the exhibit titled “The People’s Quran” will be displayed in the McGraw Rotunda of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The library highlighted that Schomburg, a Puerto Rican-born bibliophile, dedicated much of his life to collecting works related to Black history and culture. He was also noted as a co-founder of a revolutionary organization advocating for independence in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Anthony Marx, director of the New York Public Library, remarked on the significance of Mamdani’s use of the Quran at his swearing-in, stating it embodies a broader narrative of inclusivity and civic consciousness.

Hiba Abid, the curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at the library, commented on the Quran’s importance, saying, “This Quran is accessible not only because of its simple craftsmanship but also because it’s part of the nation’s largest public library system collection.” She expressed hope that it will encourage New Yorkers to explore the diversity within the library’s collections.