NYC's First Muslim Mayor Celebrates Ramadan

Zohran Mamdani marks the start of the holy month with the city's Muslim community.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, joined more than 1 million Muslims in New York in marking the start of Ramadan on Wednesday. Mamdani attended a housing event after beginning his fast and expressed excitement to connect with Muslims across the city through Iftar dinners and service projects during the holy month.

Why it matters

Mamdani's observance of Ramadan as the first Muslim mayor of New York City is a historic moment that highlights the growing diversity and representation in the city's leadership. Ramadan is an important religious and cultural celebration for the over 1 million Muslims living in New York.

The details

On the first day of Ramadan, Mayor Mamdani attended a housing event after starting his fast. He expressed looking forward to connecting with Muslims across the city through Iftar dinners and service projects during the holy month. Mamdani posted a "Ramadan Mubarak" message on YouTube, wishing the community a blessed Ramadan. New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam, a practicing Muslim, shared that the spiritual fast deepens each year as one focuses on becoming the best version of themselves.

  • Wednesday marked the first day of Ramadan.
  • Ramadan is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, starting when the crescent moon is sighted.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The first Muslim mayor of New York City.

Yusef Salaam

A New York City Council Member and practicing Muslim.

Yahaya Abubakar

The director of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (ICCNY).

Sheikh Imam Chernor Sa'ad Jalloh

A leader at the ICCNY.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, I feel parched.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“This is a month of reflection, it's a month of solidarity. And it's month that is so often characterized just by the fact that we are not eating or drinking from sun up to sun down, but it misses what actually drives us through the course of the day, which is a chance to actually reflect.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“The spiritual fast gets deeper and deeper and deeper every single year because you're really focused on making yourself the best version of yourself every single time.”

— Yusef Salaam, New York City Council Member

“It is not something that is common to have a Muslim mayor in New York City. That's something very, very, very important for us.”

— Yahaya Abubakar, Director of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (ICCNY)

“Opportunity is when your relationship with God is excellent.”

— Sheikh Imam Chernor Sa'ad Jalloh, Leader at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (ICCNY)

What’s next

Mayor Mamdani plans to connect with Muslims across the city through Iftar dinners and service projects during Ramadan.

The takeaway

The observance of Ramadan by New York City's first Muslim mayor marks a historic moment of representation and diversity in the city's leadership, highlighting the growing presence and importance of the Muslim community in New York.