The Brian Lehrer Show Ramadan in 2026
Mar 19, 2026
Faiyaz Jaffer, Ed.D., NYU chaplain and the first full-time Shia Muslim chaplain at an American university, reflects on Ramadan in 2026. He discusses how communities mark Ramadan in NYC and worldwide. Conversations cover public visibility by leaders, the impact of global conflicts on observance, interfaith and intra-Muslim practices, and the role of campus chaplaincy during tense times.
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Mayor Mamdani's Ramadan Visibility Empowers Muslims
- Mayor Mamdani's Ramadan visibility brings symbolic empowerment to NYC Muslims.
- Faiyaz Jaffer says public fasting and mayoral Iftar let young Muslims express identity more openly after years of marginalization.
Ramadan Marked By Hope And Increased Islamophobia
- Ramadan 2026 mixed hope and backlash as Islamophobia rose after the mayoral election.
- Jaffer notes a surge in public anti-Muslim expression tied to Mamdani's win despite broad non-Muslim voter support.
First Ramadan As A Father Amid Hospital Stay
- Muhammad shared his first Ramadan as a father while his wife and newborn stayed hospitalized.
- He contrasted their hospital care with Gaza, where he said people lack functioning health systems during the conflict.