In a recent column in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang, Pakistani writer Muhammad Irfan Siddiqui described the spread of Islam in Japan, especially noting the role of a Turkish mosque in Tokyo in the propagation of Islam among the Japanese people. The mosque is associated with the Tokyo Camii ("mosque")& Turkish Culture Center of Turkey.
In the column, "The Spread Of Islam In Japan," Muhammad Irfan Siddiqui observed: "The mosque, a masterpiece of Turkish architecture, itself was telling that Muslims are not a backward people and Islam is not an artificial religion. After the prayer, the Japanese students went to the lower part of the mosque where a lecture in Japanese about the basic beliefs of Islam had been arranged for them."
Japanese students visit Tokyo Camii ("mosque") in 2016 (image courtesy: The Japan Times)
Following are excerpts from the article:[1]
"There Are 230,000 Japanese Muslims In Japan; An Important Point Is That 50,000 Japanese Citizens Have Embraced Islam, And These Are Not Just Ordinary Citizens, But Japanese Muslims Who Play Significant Roles In Japanese Society"
"What a beautiful sight is this beautiful mosque, which bears witness to the honor and grandeur of Islam on the main road of Yoyogi Uehara in the central area of Tokyo. It was Friday, and I was heading toward the Turkish mosque, also known as Tokyo Camii, for the Friday prayer. From several hundred meters away on the main road of Yoyogi Uehara, the dome and minaret of this beautiful mosque captivate everyone passing-by.
"With light steps, I was heading toward the mosque, admiring the beautiful scene. A few minutes later, I entered the mosque. Salute to the administration of the Turkish mosque for introducing Islam to the Japanese people in its true sense.
"After entering the mosque, copies of the Quran and religious books translated into Japanese were stacked on a table, which are sometimes provided to Japanese citizens as free gifts and sometimes at some price. In the lower part of the mosque, there is a hall where Japanese and Turkish religious scholars are present to give lectures on Islam in the Japanese language.
"Passing through the lower part of this masterpiece of Turkish architecture, I entered the upper floor of the mosque where a large crowd of Muslims from around the world had gathered for the Friday prayer. Not only this, but a section of the mosque was reserved for male and female students from Japanese universities and ordinary Japanese citizens, where Japanese students and ordinary citizens who wanted to know about the religion of Islam were sitting and watching Muslims offering prayers.
"Not only this, rather the administration of the Turkish mosque has arranged for the Friday sermon to be delivered in three languages. Written copies of the sermons in all three languages are available at the entrances; so, anyone entering the mosque can take a copy of the sermon in their preferred language. Many Japanese women also took the sermon paper in Japanese and entered the mosque hall.
"Inside the mosque, the atmosphere was very beautiful. The mosque, a masterpiece of Turkish architecture, itself was telling that Muslims are not a backward people and Islam is not an artificial religion. After the prayer, the Japanese students went to the lower part of the mosque where a lecture in Japanese about the basic beliefs of Islam had been arranged for them.
"Not only this, rather hundreds of Japanese men and women also register at this mosque to find a good Muslim life partner. And with the help of this mosque, hundreds of Pakistani brothers have found pious Japanese Muslim wives thus far. At present, Islam has become the fastest-growing religion in Japan. And there are 230,000 Japanese Muslims in Japan. An important point is that 50,000 Japanese citizens have embraced Islam, and these are not just ordinary citizens, but Japanese Muslims who play significant roles in Japanese society."
First Among Japanese Converts To Islam "Is Muhammad Hussain Inoki, A World-Renowned Japanese Wrestler; He Had The Honor Of Converting To Islam At The Hands Of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein During The Iraq-America War; He Also Became A Member Of The Japanese Parliament"
"Let me introduce you to a few prominent individuals who have embraced Islam. First among them is Muhammad Hussain Inoki, a world-renowned Japanese wrestler. He had the honor of converting to Islam at the hands of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein during the Iraq-America war. He also became a member of the Japanese parliament and continued to love Pakistan and Islam until the end of his life.
"The second prominent individual is Sultan Nour. He is the child of Arab and Japanese parents; he is fifty-two years old and is the first Arab-Japanese member of the parliament. The third individual is Dewi Sukarno, the child of Indonesian and Japanese parents. She was born in 1940 in Japan. Besides being a prominent businessperson, she is also the wife of the former president of Indonesia.
At the mosque's entrance, women are asked to wear a scarf
"The fourth individual is Kohan Kawauchi, a prominent scholar and acclaimed intellectual in Japan. He has authored numerous well-known dramas and films. Ryoichi Mita, also known as Umar Mita, is the fifth, but his services are the most important. He is the first Japanese Muslim to translate the Holy Quran into Japanese.
"Matsutarō Yamaoka is the first Japanese Muslim who travelled to Mecca to perform Hajj as a Japanese Muslim. And Ahmed Maeno is a famous Japanese Muslim and religious scholar who is playing a significant role in the promotion of Islam, especially in introducing the new generation of Japan to the fold of Islam. His efforts to bring the new Japanese generation into the sphere of Islam are commendable.
"Shutaro Noda was a Japanese journalist and the first Muslim in the eighteenth century. There are hundreds of Japanese Muslims who are important members of Japanese society. Some of them have been introduced to you, while others will be introduced in the future."
[1] Roznama Jang (Pakistan), May 19, 2024.
