Naveed
Zohran Mamdani took office as New York City’s mayor as the first Shia Muslim to hold the job — and also the product of a household that celebrated Eid and Diwali under the same roof.
| Religion | Shia Islam (Twelver branch) |
| Father’s faith | Muslim (Mahmood Mamdani, Columbia professor) |
| Mother’s background | Hindu (Mira Nair, filmmaker) |
| Historic role | First Shia Muslim mayor of NYC |
A Muslim identity he calls central
Mamdani identifies as a Shia Muslim of the Twelver branch and has repeatedly called himself a “proud Muslim,” treating that identity as core to both his politics and his personal life. Coverage of his January 2026 inauguration, including from Deseret News, noted how visibly his Muslim faith featured in the ceremony itself — a first for a New York City mayor.
One household, two religions
His religious identity is inseparable from a genuinely interfaith upbringing: his father, Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani, is Muslim, while his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, comes from a Hindu family. Mamdani has described growing up celebrating both Eid and Hindu festivals like Diwali, calling it a multifaith upbringing rather than a single religious track.
Why the “not Muslim enough” debate exists
Not everyone reads Mamdani’s faith the same way. A piece in ARC: Religion, Politics, Et Cetera argued he’s “not Muslim enough” for some observers, pointing to how his secular, progressive politics sit alongside his religious identity. That tension — between a publicly stated Muslim identity and a political style shaped by a mixed-faith household — is part of why his religion gets debated more than most politicians’ does.
FAQ
Is Zohran Mamdani Sunni or Shia?
He is Shia, specifically of the Twelver branch, and has been described as the first Shia Muslim mayor in New York City’s history.
Was Zohran Mamdani raised Hindu or Muslim?
Both traditions shaped his childhood — Islam through his father and Hindu culture through his mother, Mira Nair — though he identifies religiously as Muslim.
