ISLAMIC CENTER- JAPAN
Presentation at Waseda University, Tokyo
1-16-11,
Ohara, Setagaya-ku,
Tokyo
156-0041
Tel.
03-3460-6169
Fax.
03-3460-6105
E-mail:
info@islamcenter.or.jp
On behalf of
Islamic Center-Japan, it’s Chairman Dr. Salih Al Samarrai, Board of Directors
and members we thank Professor Kojima Hiroshi, Professor Tanada Hirofumi, Mr.
Oki Hirofumi Waseda University for inviting us to attend this meeting.
Japan have good relations with Muslim countries from Meiji Era as history
witnesses. Waseda University have good relations with Muslims, Abdur Rashid
Ibraheem Turk tatar visited Waseda university before 100 years, and his son
studied in Waseda University, other Muslim graduated from Waseda University,
among them was one of Islamic Center-Japan founder, director Dr. Musa Muhammed
Omar. Dr. Salih Al-Samarrai informed me that Marhoom Abubakr Morimoto received
many important documents for his book “Islam in Japan”from Waseda University.
INTODUCTION ISLAMIC
CENTER- JAPAN:
In 1961,
Dr. Salih Al Samarrai with others founded the Muslim Students Association in
Japan.
In 1974, Dr.
Salih Al Samarrai in cooperation with some others laid the foundation of Islamic
Center-Japan.
It was legally registered (Shukiyo Hojin) with the Japanese government in 1980.
As a result
of
the so-called “oil
shock”
in 1974, many Japanese were
awakened
to
the
Islamic
world
and they
contacted Islamic Center-Japan for
more information on
Islam.
Promotion of
da’wah movement in Japan:
Islamic
Center-Japan
has
been one of the pioneering
bodies
of da’wah movement in Japan.
Now,
Alhamdo-Lillah,
Islam has spread to
all
corners
of Japan.
In the
beginning,
Islamic Center-Japan provided both moral and material support in establishment
of mosques,
musallas and organizations all over the country. Thus
the
da’wah
movement
in Japan was
built over
many
years and ICJ played a key role.
Islamic
Center-Japan is presenting Islam to Japanese and looking after Muslim matters
according to Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it’s
slogan verses from Holy Quran:
Invite (mankind,
O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.
And who is better
in speech than he who (says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and
then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and) invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic
Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."
Islamic
Center-Japan purposes are follow:
Islamic Center-Japan:
Islamic
Center-Japan have 8 directors, and
the regular meetings of the
Board
of
Directors
were held every month.
The
monthly reports of activities were
presented
and accounts and other matters were discussed Al Hamdo li Allah.
General body meeting held every year, presented in that meeting yearly
activities report, finance report, and next year budget, and future plane.
Election held every two years.
Muslims in Islamic Center-Japan:
ICJ regular programs are attended from 60 to 150 people, and over 200 peoples
attend to special programs such as Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha etc.
Islamic Center-Japan has good relations with Japanese neighborhood, Hanegi park,
where we are making Picnic every year.
Below is the list of important activities related to da’wah work of
Islamic Center-Japan:
Methods and Approaches of Da’wah:
First,
Islamic Center-Japan advices the person who wants to embrace Islam to study
about Islam and send them free Islamic books by post (Takkyubin). When they come
to ICJ for embracing Islam, we explain them the principles of Islam by Holy
Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and all new Muslims were
provided
a set of books
in Japanese,
namely, Introduction to Islam, Talemul Quran
(I &
II),
Forty Hadiths Islam
(Beliefs and Pillars), Muslims’
Belief,
The
Status
of Women in Islam,
and Toward
Understanding
Islam.
The
new Muslims
are
also invited to participate in activities of
the Center.
Shahadah
at Islamic Center-Japan:
It has been
observed that
the
Japanese come from far and wide and perform Shahadah
at the Center.
Al Hamdo li Allah Japanese and non-Japanese were converted to Islam in good
number every years.
Islamic Center-Japan issues certificates to new Muslims.
Islamic center-Japan performs marriages:
Islamic Center-Japan performs marriages, and issues certificates of marriages.
Study
Sessions
of Holy
Quran
at
Islamic Center-Japan:
Alhamdo-Lillah,
Dars of Holy Quran
sessions
are
very
successful.
Classes were usually
held on
the
second and fourth
Saturday
every month.
Teaching
the Holy
Quran
to
children done before Dars Holy Quran.
Distribution
of
Books
for Da’wah Islam:
Japan
is a
highly educated nation. The best way to convey the message of Islam is through
books.
With this basic need in mind,
ICJ has
published over fifty books
in Japanese,
distributed them free of cost.
However, we
are now able to
distribute
only
eight of them,
Other books are out of stock at present.
ICJ
also published a quarterly magazine “Assalam” in Japanese.
Distribution
of free books to
Muslim
organizations,
mosques
and individuals is
one of
the core
activity of the Center.
Also sends books at any request coming to the Center. Therefore,
ICJ
books
are
sent all over
Japan and even abroad.
We also publish:
And distributing free of charge in hole Japan.
Special
Lectures
at Islamic Center-Japan:
The
Directors
of Islamic Center-Japan gave lectures at various educational institutions in
Japan. We also invited scholars from various countries to deliver lectures in
Japan.
Royate-Hilal
Committee Meeting:
Ruete-Hilal
Committee was established under the auspices of ICJ
about
a decade ago.
All mosques, Musallas and Muslim
organizations
are
its members. On the occasions
of Holy month of Ramadhan,
Eidul-Fitr
and Edul-Adha,
the Committee
meets
at ICJ. Muslim organizations from various places inform
ICJ
about the sighting of moon. The Ruete-Hilal
Committee
decides
the
start
of
the holy
month of Ramadhan, Eidul Fitr and
Eidul Adha. If the moon
is
not sighted
in Japan
then
the announcement from
Malaysia
is
followed
for
such
cases.
Special Program for the Holy Month of
Ramadhan1428
AH
(2007):
Islamic
Center-Japan was very active
during Ramadhan too.
It was a month of vigor and voluntary spirit supporting special activities at
the Center. Preparations
for Ramadhan
had
begun
quite
early.
Taraveeh
prayers were arranged by ICJ every year during Holy Month of Ramadhan.
Iftar
party
held every Sunday and Lailatul Qadr night of 27th of Ramadahn. The
whole-night-ibadah
sessions
was arranged
on all odd
nights
of the
21st, 23rd,
25th
and 27th of Ramadhan. It
was Khatamul
Quran in
taraveeh of 27th night.
Celebration
of Eidul Fitr 1428
A.H:
Eidul Fitr
is an occasion of joy and happiness for Muslims. Islamic Center-Japan arranged
an Eid party and a meeting place for brothers, sisters and children
to
celebrated
Eid with joy
and festivity.
Hajj
1428
A.H:
On 18
Jul.2007 Hajj Committee of Japan
was
formed
at Islamic Center-Japan.
A
meeting was
held to coordinate performance of Hajj under expert guidance.
Last
year about
83 Hajis performed Hajj. Dr. Salimur
Rahman Khan
had served as
the
leader of
delegation.
In view of
the success of the Hajj delegation last year a bigger group
of
110 Hajis was arranged. First,
ICJ gave a comprehensive lecture on “Manasike
Hajj” (How to perform the Hajj) on December 1, 2007 at Islamic Center-Japan.
Celebration of
Eidul Adha:
Eidul Adha
is
another
major festival of Islam. Soon after Eidul
Adha prayer a big Eid party was
held at Islamic Center-Japan.
(Udhiya) the
sacrificial meat was distributed to
the
mosques, musallas and Muslim
Organizations.
Home
page of ICJ:
ICJ have home page in Japanese, English, and Arabic.
Cooperation with Mass Media:
Islamic Center-Japan takes all opportunities to expand understanding about Islam
to the Japanese public by cooperating with mass-media like TV and newspapers in
Japan and out of Japan.
Participating
at
International
Conferences:
The
directors, members and friends of Islamic Center-Japan participated in
several
international conferences and represented ICJ.
Dignitaries Visiting ICJ:
Alhamdo-Lillah,
visitors come to Islamic Center-Japan quite frequently.
Picnic
of Islamic Center- Japan:
Islamic
Center-Japan arranges picnics
to provide opportunities for socializing and developing friendship between
Japanese and the Muslim community.
Last year too
on 17
Jun. Islamic Center
organized a picnic at a nearby park, which was
very
successful.
About
109 persons from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Pakistan and India participated. The attendance of women was quite
large including Japanese ladies.
The
participants enjoyed
barbecue
and
a
friendship
soccer match
between a local Japanese team and ICJ team. The children were in high spirit and
they enjoyed
the event very much.
Multi-religious
Meetings:
For last
several years Islamic Center-Japan
has represented
Islam in
the
peace prayers along with other religions.
Prayer at
Commonwealth community in Japan:
The
Commonwealth community in Japan observes
Remembrance Day in honor of the memory of Commonwealth servicemen.
The
Islamic Center-Japan regularly takes
part in these ceremonies.
Grave-yard
matters:
Islamic Center-Japan since last several years is trying hard to help in
Grave-yard matter.
Guidance
through
telephones and
e-mails:
Islamic
Center-Japan received
a
large number of telephone
enquires and
e-mails from
all over Japan and overseas.
All
sorts
of guidance was provided.
Letter
of Protest:
Islamic
Center-Japan representative Mr. Abdul Rab Shaji
explained front of Denmark Ambassador that the concept of freedom is limited:
“Your freedom ends where my nose begins.
You cannot insult our
Prophet
(Peace Be upon Him) and hurt our feelings. You have violated the concept of
freedom and the position of your government is contradictory”.
Salatul Juma
Khutaba:
Islamic
Center-Japan Director of Dawa’h has been translating the
khutba of
salatul Juma
at
the
Arabic Islamic Institute-Tokyo every week from Arabic to Urdu
as a
volunteer. Apart from this,
he also led salatul Juma
and presented
khutba at various
mosques
in Japan
in absence of Imam of that masque.
Services of Islamic Center- Japan for
Halal Matters:
Since its
establishment in 1974, ICJ
considered it its duty to provide information about
halal
matters
to Muslims.
During
various periods
ICJ
responsible persons
have
provided
halal
chicken, beef and mutton to serve the Muslim community. Moreover, the Center has
been providing its services to those involved in the
halal
meat business by checking their places and teaching them the proper methods
of slaughtering animal according to Islamic
Shariyah.
Islamic Center-Japan future plans In Sha Allah:
We
appreciate Professor Kojima Hiroshi, Professor Tanada Hirofumi, Mr. Oki
Hirofumi, all Teachers and Students
from Waseda University who helped in holding this meeting and all
representatives who came to this meeting.
Dr. Salimur Rahman Khan
Executive & Dawa’h Director
Islamic Center-Japan
11 February ,2009