New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani invoked the story of Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W) Hijra during an interfaith breakfast on Friday, February 6, 2026, as he signed an executive order strengthening the city’s sanctuary protections for immigrants.
Speaking to approximately 400 faith and community leaders, the mayor drew powerful parallels between Islamic history and contemporary immigration debates.
“I consider my own faith, Islam, a religion built upon a narrative of migration. The story of the Hijra reminds us that Prophet Muhammad was a stranger too, who fled Mecca and was welcomed in Medina,” Mamdani stated. He quoted Surah An-Nahl 16:42: “As for those who emigrated in the cause of Allah after being persecuted, we will surely bless them with a good home in this world”.
The mayor also referenced a hadith, saying: “Islam began as something strange and will go back to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers”, emphasizing compassion for those displaced from their homes.
Executive Order 13 prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering city property, including schools, shelters, hospitals, and parking lots, without a judicial warrant. The order also protects the privacy and data of immigrants and all residents, bolsters restrictions on federal immigration enforcement, initiates an audit to ensure city agencies comply with sanctuary laws, and establishes a committee to coordinate crisis response.
Additionally, the administration distributed nearly 32,000 flyers and booklets in 10 languages to help residents understand their rights if approached by immigration enforcement.
Mamdani’s remarks underscored a universal message of empathy and human dignity that transcends religious boundaries, highlighting how faith traditions worldwide call believers to protect the vulnerable and welcome strangers with compassion.
