Social media users and partisan commentators have been circulating alarming claims that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani authorized mosques to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, known as the Adhan, five times a day beginning at 5 a.m. The story has generated outrage online, but the evidence shows the claim is false.
The rumor spread largely through conservative social media accounts that shared videos allegedly showing early morning broadcasts throughout New York City. Fact-checkers examining the footage found that some of the videos were old and taken under conditions inconsistent with the claims. In several cases, the sun was already well above the horizon despite captions asserting that the broadcasts occurred around 5 a.m.
The controversy also ignores the fact that New York City policies regarding religious broadcasts were not created by Mamdani. In August 2023, under the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, the city announced guidelines allowing mosques to use loudspeakers for the call to prayer during Friday services and throughout Ramadan without obtaining special permits, provided they complied with existing noise regulations. Those rules did not authorize year-round broadcasts five times a day.
No evidence has emerged showing that Mayor Mamdani changed those policies after taking office. Nor is there any official city announcement authorizing five daily broadcasts beginning before sunrise.
Mamdani, who became New York City's first Muslim mayor after winning the 2025 election, has been the target of numerous false and misleading claims related to his faith and background. Fact-checkers have repeatedly documented efforts to recycle old videos and attach them to current political events in order to create controversy.
The broader issue highlights how misinformation often spreads faster than facts. Videos removed from their original context, combined with emotionally charged narratives, can quickly produce viral stories that appear convincing but collapse under examination.
New York City continues to enforce its existing noise ordinances and religious freedom protections equally among faith communities. The claim that Mayor Zohran Mamdani authorized mosques to broadcast the Adhan five times every day beginning at 5 a.m. is not supported by the facts.
In an era when social media rewards outrage, verifying claims before sharing them remains more important than ever.
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