Oaths, M&Ms and a historic Quran: Texas’ freshman lawmakers begin their inaugural legislative session

State Rep. Salman Bhojani, D-HD92, speaks with Usama Malik, resident chaplain of the community organization Muslim Space, before participating in an interfaith ceremony the morning of the opening day of the 2023 legislative session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023. (Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune)

With his hand on a historic, tattered brown Quran, Salman Bhojani swore in on Tuesday as one of the first Muslim representatives in the Texas Legislature, along with Rep. Suleman Lalani.

The first English copy to be printed in the Americas, Bhojani's copy of the Quran is displayed in his office. He imagines he will pass the text down to Muslim lawmakers that follow him.