Here's A Free Copy Of The Qur'an

Zohran Mamdani swore in on a Qur'an, upsetting many on the right. The Qur'an is up to the challenge, read it for yourself.

On New Year’s Day, I witnessed a moment that captured the very soul of the American promise—our ongoing, unfinished, ever-expanding experiment in pluralism.

New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, took his oath of office on the Holy Qur’an. And that oath was administered by a Jewish American senator. As an American Muslim, I cannot adequately express the joy, the reverence, and the hope that filled me watching that scene unfold. It was more than symbolic—it was a living testament to what this nation can be at its best.

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This is what makes America great. Not uniformity, but unity without sameness. Not erasing differences, but embracing them with dignity. Not restricting participation, but expanding the democratic table so that Americans of every faith—or no faith—can lead and serve.

The Backlash—and What It Reveals

Predictably, some corners of the internet erupted in outrage that a Muslim mayor—lawfully elected by New Yorkers—took an oath on his own sacred scripture. Here’s a small sample of what I was bombarded with on social media yesterday.

These responses are revealing. They do not reflect a disagreement over policy or governance. They reflect a fundamental misunderstanding—sometimes willful—of what the Qur’an is, what Islam teaches, and what American pluralism requires.

So let us address that misunderstanding directly.

Qur’an’s First Word: “Iqra”—Read. Learn. Reflect.

Fear thrives where knowledge is absent. And few books in human history are more misrepresented in American discourse than the Qur’an. What many critics do not know is that the very first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad (sa) was “Iqra.”

A word that means to read, to recite, to reflect, to engage. The entirety of Islamic discourse and dialogue is encapsulated in this word. The Qur’an begins not with secrecy, not with dogma, not with coercion—but with an invitation to education and inquiry. It is an open book. There is nothing hidden. Nothing concealed. Nothing to fear.

So when people express outrage that someone sworn into public office used the Qur’an, it tells me they have likely never opened it. Which is why I am sharing a link to the Qur’an in Arabic and in most any language you desire.

Get Your Copy of the Qur’an—In Over 100 Languages

Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, atheist, unsure, curious, or simply committed to truth, you are invited to read the Qur’an for yourself, on your own terms, in your own language.

Download the Qur'an in 100+ Languages

If you are going to criticize something, let it be based on knowledge—not fearmongering, not misinformation, not stereotypes older than the country itself. Note, there is only one version of the Qur’an, in Arabic. Each of the translations are just that—translations. But each translation is based on the exact same Arabic.

America Is Strongest When All of Us Can Serve

When a Jewish senator swears in a Muslim mayor on a Qur’an, it does not diminish America. It fulfills America. When Christians, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, atheists, and others participate in public life, it does not weaken the republic. It strengthens the republic. Pluralism is not a threat to democracy; it is the only way democracy survives.

Zohran Mamdani’s swearing-in ceremony was not just a personal milestone. It was a national one. A reminder that America becomes more America when we affirm—not suppress—the full diversity of its people. Those who demonize the Qur’an hope Americans listen to their fear, and capitulate to fear. They do not expect us Muslims to further make the Qur’an accessible and available in hundreds of languages. As I’ve repeatedly written, Islam invites inquiry, critique, analysis, and debate—it does not censor it. The Qur’an has remained an open book for the the past 1,400 years since it was revealed, and it will continue to remain so for time immemorial.

Why This Work Matters: Join Let's Address This

Disinformation about Islam is not going away on its own. It takes work, scholarship, patience, and public engagement to counter narratives built on fear and ignorance.

If you value:

• factual analysis
• faith-informed reflection
• and a commitment to pluralism

then I invite you to subscribe to Let's Address This.

Your support helps me continue writing, teaching, and pushing back against the tidal wave of misinformation that too often shapes public debate. Together, let’s build an America where scenes like Mamdani’s swearing-in are not remarkable—but routine.

Let's Address This is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.