Birth of Islam in Japan

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24 Aralık, 2007

Nimetullah Hodja, one of the teachers in Islamic Center in Japan, says: “I want to give glad tidings that sometimes more than 50 Japan come to Islamic Center in Japan and become a Muslim. Besides, there are more mosques today”

Nimetullah Hodja is a Turkish citizen who has been serving the purpose of Islamic communiqué and guidance for many years in Japan.

Although statistics are not certain, the number of Muslims in Japan is around 300-350 thousand, 50 thousand of which are of Japanese origin. There are about 180 mosques in Japan, alongside nearly 180 Islamic institutions distributed everywhere in Japan. The Director of Tokyo Islamic Center states that recently Japans increasingly show interest in Islam and thousands of Japans are becoming Muslims.

Japanese people met Islam through Ottomans and their interest in Islam gradually increased in the last century. Some of the Japans who went to China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines during the Second World War got back to their countries as Muslims after the war. In 1953, these Japanese Muslims found the first Islamic Community in Japan. The first mosque built in Japan is Kobi Mosque (year 1953). Three years later, Tokyo mosque was built. Tokyo mosque was subject to decay with time so a few years ago it was restorated by Turkey Religious Affairs Foundation. In 1975, Islamic Center was built in Japan. By the agency of Islamic Center, which tells and conveys Islamic message to Japanese people truthfully, thousands of Japans has converted to Islam. Currently, the center has been working on construction of an Islamic school. Islamic center, which is an independent religious institution recognized by Japanese government officially, has been giving such services as distribution of Islamic books in Japanese language, providing Islam and Arabic language classes, organizing conference and symposiums, Japanese translation of religious books and issuing Islamic identity certificates for Muslims.

JAPANESE PEOPLE SHOW INTEREST IN ISLAM

Nimetullah Hodja, one of the teachers in Islamic Center in Japan, describes the situation of Islamic activities in Japan as follows:

“We have had an interest in Japan for 34 years. We were continuously traveling back and forth to Japan. Until 20 years ago, there were only 2 mosques here and today there are more than 400 place of worship including small mosques. I want to give glad tidings that today sometimes more than 50 Japan come to Islamic Center and become a Muslim. Besides, as I said there are more mosques today. People there tell us this all the time: “You Muslims, why were you so late to bring us eternal light of Islam? You came to our neighbors, to China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines for example, why did you not come to us?” It’s much easy for nations like Japan to become Muslim. Missionary activities are plenty there. We are trying to convey Islamic message as good as we can. Buddhist professors tell us that Buddhists have potential to become Muslims because number of Muslims in surrounding countries is increasing and guidance activities are bounty.”

The number of Muslims in Japan

According to statistics given by Islam News Agency magazine, which is based on the information provided by Dr. Halid Gallush, the president of Japanese Muslims Union, in Japan, where Buddhism and Shintoizm prevails, he number of Muslims is around 300-350 thousand, 50 thousand of which are of Japanese origin and there are about 180 mosques in Japan, besides nearly 180 Islamic institutions which are located at every region of Japan. Rapid increase of number of Muslims in Japan, as in every corner of the world, is a significant indicator of the need for Islam. Japanese people who are involved in false religions are now getting enlightened by the light of Islam.

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Birth of Islam in Japan