Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday that a historic Qur’an used during his oath of office will be displayed at the New York Public Library’s main branch, marking a significant cultural moment for the city’s first Muslim mayor.

The 18th-century Qur’an, which belonged to Puerto Rican-born scholar and revolutionary activist Arturo Schomburg, will be exhibited in the McGraw Rotunda at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street. Mamdani used the religious text during his private midnight swearing-in ceremony on New Year’s Day, administered by New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

“When I swore in at midnight at the old City Hall subway station last week, I had the honor of doing so on Arturo Schomburg’s 18th-century Qur’an,” Mamdani wrote on social media platform X. “This manuscript was copied in Ottoman Syria, and is written in black ink with red highlighting the text’s divisions – no ornate decoration, it belonged to the everyday reader, and it now belongs to all New Yorkers as part of our City’s next chapter.”

The display, titled “The People’s Qur’an,” features the historic text alongside photographs of Mamdani’s swearing-in ceremony with his wife, Rama Duwaji. It also includes images of Schomburg himself, contextualizing the historical significance of both the religious text and its previous owner.

Schomburg, whose collection forms the foundation of the renowned Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, was a prominent bibliophile, historian, and journalist who dedicated his life to collecting materials documenting Black history and culture. He also co-founded Las Dos Antillas, an anti-colonialist organization that advocated for Cuban and Puerto Rican independence by providing weapons, funds, and medical supplies to support these independence movements.

New York Public Library President Anthony Marx emphasized the symbolic importance of the text, saying, “This specific Qur’an, which Arturo Schomburg preserved for the knowledge and enjoyment of all New Yorkers, symbolizes a greater story of inclusion, representation, and civic-mindedness.”

The library’s Curator of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Hiba Abid, noted that the Qur’an’s significance transcends its physical attributes. “It is a Qur’an close to the people, not only because of its simple craftsmanship, but also because it is part of the collections of the nation’s largest public library system,” Abid explained. “Its importance lies not in luxury, but in accessibility, and we hope it inspires more New Yorkers to explore the rich diversity of our Middle Eastern and Islamic collections.”

The public display follows what the library described as a “history-making moment” when Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, became the city’s first Muslim mayor. His inauguration ceremony on New Year’s Day featured prominent progressive figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

This exhibition comes during a period of increased recognition for Muslim Americans in New York. Recently, Governor Kathy Hochul ordered several New York landmarks, including One World Trade Center, to be illuminated in green in observance of Muslim American Heritage Month.

The display of the historic Qur’an represents an intersection of religious, cultural, and political significance in New York City’s evolving identity. By highlighting the connection between Schomburg’s activism and Mamdani’s historic mayoral role, the exhibition underscores the diverse cultural threads that have shaped the city’s history and continue to influence its future.

The public can view the Qur’an and accompanying exhibition beginning January 6 at the New York Public Library’s flagship location.