Most New Yorkers know Zohran Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City.
But what’s less known is that he’s the first Shia Muslim mayor — a minority sect within Islam.
What You Need To Know
Most New Yorkers know Zohran Mamdani is the first Muslim mayor of New York City. But what’s less known is that he’s the first Shia Muslim mayor — a minority sect within Islam
“Shias are a minority within a minority of Muslims in New York City, but more importantly, I think, is the idea that we as [Shias] don’t have to figure out how to explain what Shias are anymore. The fact that we have a mayor means that people understand the diversity of what it means to be Muslim,” said Hussein Rashid, an educator and cultural strategist, who was born and raised in Queens and lives in Harlem
“It sure is cool to be a Shia in the city of New York at this time. At this time in our lives. At this time in our history,” said Sadiyya Abdul-Karim, a longtime Brooklynite, who converted to Shia Islam more than three decades ago
Hussein Rashid said he sees a lot of himself in Mamdani.
Rashid was born and raised in Queens. Mamdani was an assemblyman representing Queens.
Rashid’s ancestors are from Tanzania in East Africa, and the mayor was born in Uganda, which is also in East Africa.
The two also share the same faith: Shiism.
About one in 10 Muslims are Shia.
“Shias are a minority within a minority of Muslims in New York City, but more importantly, I think, is the idea that we as [Shias] don’t have to figure out how to explain what Shias are anymore. The fact that we have a mayor means that people understand the diversity of what it means to be Muslim,” Rashid said.
Rashid, who lives in Harlem, is a professor of Islamic studies. He teaches a course on Shiism at Union Theological Seminary.
Rashid said he believes a Mamdani leadership underscores greater visibility for Shia New Yorkers.
“It allows them to see themselves, their values, and what they felt as an extreme amount of pressure since September 11th to see that they really are welcomed in this city,” he said.
Not just welcome, but embraced, according to longtime Brooklynite Sadiyya Abdul-Karim, who’s originally from Trinidad.
“It sure is cool to be a Shia in the city of New York at this time. At this time in our lives. At this time in our history,” Abdul-Karim said.
The majority of Muslims are Sunnis. The two main sects agree on the basic tenets of Islam and have similar prayers, but have different beliefs about the successor after the Prophet Muhammad’s death.
Abdul-Karim converted to Shia Islam more than three decades ago.
“I got pride girl. Now, with the mayor in the forefront, it’s like we have arrived,” she said.
High school math teacher and Queens resident, Rumi Hooshmand, also believes Shia New Yorkers have arrived.
“If you try and run the numbers on how many Shia community members have gotten to this level to represent the community in such a positive way, the numbers are very low. So that’s also pretty exciting to have someone so significant not just politically but also in the community every single day representing us,” Hooshmand said.
The 26-year-old said this level of representation matters for acceptance.
“It opens up the space for so many other Shia Muslims to feel more confident in asserting their identity in their work,” Hooshmand said.
As well as a chance to showcase values central to the faith.
“The inclusivity and the love that [are] taught in our communities and in our cultural upbringing,” Hooshmand continued.
Cultural upbringing, which for Rashid, a native New York, includes being seen for the first time. Not just as New Yorkers, but as Muslims within their own Muslim community.
“What I love about New York is just the diversity of people here. You can’t find a better city in the world for that,” he said.