New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Ramadan Is My Favourite Month
Zohran Mamdani is observing his first Ramadan fast as Mayor of New York — home to more than one million Muslims in the United States who began fasting on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The spirit of the holy month has reached all the way to City Hall. According to the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, more than 20 per cent of Muslims in the United States reside in the city.
Amid the Ramadan spirit, Mayor Zohran Mamdani began his day fasting before attending a housing event on Wednesday morning. When asked how it felt to be New York’s first Muslim mayor on the first day of Ramadan, he replied lightly, “Right now, I’m feeling thirsty.”
Behind the quip, however, Mamdani described Ramadan as “his favourite month of the year.”
“This is a month of reflection, a month of solidarity,” he told CBS News on Thursday, 19 February 2026. He added that Ramadan is often understood merely as abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, when its essence runs far deeper. “What drives us throughout the day is the opportunity to truly reflect.”
He expressed his hope to connect with Muslim communities across the city, whether through iftar invitations or social service projects that embody Ramadan values. “Whether they wake up for sahur before heading to work, or work through the night and then stop to break their fast, I hope to be able to meet with them,” Mamdani said.
He also conveyed his “Ramadan Mubarak” greetings through his personal YouTube channel, offering prayers that the holy month would bring blessings to Muslim residents.
A similar spirit was felt across different parts of the city. New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam, known as a devout Muslim, described Ramadan as a spiritual journey that deepens with each passing year.
“The spiritual fast goes deeper because you are truly focused on becoming the best version of yourself at all times,” he said.
For the local Muslim community, having a Muslim mayor holds special significance. Yahaya Abubakar, Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre of New York, called it an important moment. “It is not common to have a Muslim mayor in New York. This is very, very meaningful for us,” he said.