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The Muslim Minority
100 years after the introduction of Islam to Japan, and we are still the Minority. . .
The Muslim Minority imagines what a future Islamic Japan might look like;
and more importantly, tries to figure out how to get there.
The The Muslim Minority Mission
1.) Flourish
To have Muslim Immigrants successfully integrate into Japanese Society and have meaningful and fulfilling lives here, living their lives according to the Sunnah.
2.) Connect
To Call all of Japan to Islam through heart-to-heart connections made possible by Muslim immigrants deep understanding & respect of Japanese language and culture.
3.) Legacy
To create a future for the next generation of young Muslims in which they feel comfortable and proud of being a practicing Muslim in Japan.
4.) Imagine
To help define what "Japanese Islam" is, and imagine a future in which Japanese culture and Islam have merged seamlessly to create a unique and distinct Japanese Islamic identity.
Part 1: Reimagining our Lives
Part 1: Reimagining our Lives
Flourishing in Japan. Integrating into Society.
Creating an Islamic Japan from Within.
Flourishing in Japan. Integrating into Society.
Creating an Islamic Japan from Within.
Many of us struggle to feel at home in Japan.
Many of us have given up.
Given up on trying to integrate.
Given up on finding better work.
Given up on making Japanese friends.
Given up on a loving relationship with our Japanese wife and children.
We spend our whole lives in small communities of the same ethnicity, cut off from the rest of Japan.
I can offer you something better.
Learning the Japanese Language, and learning all of the unspoken rules, customs and ways of Japan unlocks a side of Japan that most foreigners never get to see.
Life in Japan can be fulfilling and a key to success in this life and the next.
Life in Japan can be warm and open to Islam.
You can find community (outside your own ethnic group.)
You can raise a family that is proud to be Muslim, fully integrated, and a part of Japan.
To transform our lives in Japan, we first need to learn how to speak an unspoken language.
That might sound a bit like a Zen-Riddle, but it's not.
Japan is what is known as a High Context Culture.
That means that most of the communication happening is not through words.
There are concrete steps and systems that I can teach you to help you understand and "hear" this understudied, and misunderstood side of the Japanese Language.
With understanding, you can start living your best (Islamic) life in Japan.
If you are interested in joining my program, Japanese for Muslims click the button below!
We are trying to lead the way to a future Islamic Japan.
Part 2: Calling Japanese to Islam
Part 2: Calling Japanese to Islam
"Street Da'wah" isn't the best Da'wah
"Street Da'wah" isn't the best Da'wah
For as long as Muslims have been in Japan, they have been jumping straight to Da'wah.
Tryin to explain the scientific miracles of the Quran.
Warning of Jahannam.
The promise of Jannah.
They pass out flyers and explain the beauty of the Prophet's (SAW) teachings.
But it falls on deaf ears.
These approaches have not converted Japanese in significant numbers.
100 years in Japan, and most Japanese still do not know what Islam is.
"BUT Islam is the fastest growing Religion in Japan!"
Sorry to tell you, it's only growing because we are immigrating.
Japanese people are NOT reverting to Islam in significant numbers
and it's not Islam's fault.
Islam is PERFECT.
We, unfortunately, are not.
Few of us really take the time to truly understand the Japanese people.
Few immigrant Muslims even bother trying to learn the language.
If you want to connect and successfully invite Japanese to Islam, then you are going to need a different approach.
What works in other countries, doesn't work here.
So then what does work???
Put very simply.
The majority of Japanese people convert for reasons that are not logical.
They don't convert through their minds, but through their hearts.
Love in Marriage, or love in friendship.
Music, Art, Poetry, Fashion, Design.
or even better: Kindness, care, thoughtfulness, good manners and charitable actions.
THESE are the things that bring Japanese to Islam.
The key to bringing Japan to Islam is not through learning Japanese to explain the Miracles of the Quran
It is in integrating into Japanese society and simply being a good Muslim.
More Japanese will convert to Islam through your smile, than through a pamphlet you pass out.
If we lived our lives as a good Muslims with FULL awareness of ourselves and how we are interacting with Japanese Culture, an Islamic Japan is NOT an impossible dream.
Part Two is about having the wisdom to introduce Islam to Japanese people slowly, and in steps with great understanding, patience and compassion.
The most important questions we need to ask ourselves:
-What does Islam actually say and what is just a part of my own culture?
-What are accepted and recognized opinions within the Sunnah that could be better for the Japanese people even if it's not what I follow?
-What are the most important points of Islam for Japan, and what can wait for later in the journey? (Are long lists of what is "Haram" as soon as someone converts really helping?)
-How can we make Islam easy for our Japanese brothers and sisters without pushing our own culture on them?
-How can we communicate important points to them in a way that is thoughtful, culturally appropriate and easy to accept? (ie. say to yourself, "perhaps I need to learn about Japan first, before speaking?")
-When I am wearing Islamic clothing, am I smiling and representing the religion in the best possible way?
I am not a scholar, so I cannot teach you about the deen.
But I can teach you Japanese, and I can teach you about Japanese Culture.
We can self-reflect together and figure out how to become the types of Muslims that would inspire the Japanese people to look into Islam.
"Street Da'wah" is not going to transform Japan.
BUT an army of cultured, well-mannered, thoughtful, friendly, practicing Muslims who are fluent in Japanese language and Japanese customs could easily create the foundations for a future Islamic Japan.
If you are interesting in learning about Japanese Culture, Language and Effective Communication Skills then click HERE I have developed a Japanese program specifically for Muslims living in Japan.
Part 3: The Next Generation of Muslims in Japan
Part 3: The Next Generation of Muslims in Japan
If you don't make the effort to integrate into Japan, and you continue to live life as you always have, I can already tell you the future that waits for you.
I can tell you because it is something that repeats itself, over, and over, and over again.
You may decide you don't need to integrate and learn about this country.
But your children will be born and grow up here.
They will understand Japan and the Japanese language in ways that you can't even imagine.
They will connect more with their Japanese friends than with children from your community.
They will start to see a "normal" life in Japan as better than the "Muslim" life you have created for yourself.
"Islam" will be seen as ignorant, unrelatable, outdated and unreasonable.
Unfortunately, there is a very high chance that your children might leave Islam.
Talk to any of the brothers that have been here and raised a family. Ask them about their experience.
This is a serious problem that we need to do something about!
The second generation is leaving Islam!
We need to know how to understand our children! We need to understand the language and the culture that they are growing up in.
We need to know how to speak to their teachers, and how to interact with the community and their schools in ways that we do not embarrass and outcast them.
Our children need to feel comfortable being Muslim in Japan!
The only one that can make sure your child feels comfortable being Muslim in Japan is you!
You have to show them the way!
You have to know how to talk!
You have to know how to carry yourself!
You have to know the social codes and the unspoken rules!
You need to figure out how to comfortably and happily be Muslim in Japan.
As Muslims we need to figure out how to flourish here!
The Muslim Minority looks to make sure that we can figure this out together.
You don't need to do it alone.
The first step towards understanding our children, is learning the Japanese language.
And it's not just language, it's learning cultural expectations and norms as well.
If we want our children to love Islam, then we need to show them that Muslims can flourish in Japan better than anyone!
I would be honored to help you start your journey of learning today.
If you are ready to get started click below:
Part 4: What does "Japanese Islam" Look like?
Part 4: What does "Japanese Islam" Look like?
This is something that Immigrant Muslims cannot do for Japan.
This is something that Japanese Muslims need to figure out on their own.
And it is important that we (foreign Muslims) are there to help the process, not to influence it or force it one way or the other.
The Muslim Minority looks to start and assist with projects to help increase our Japanese Brothers and Sisters in their knowledge of the Deen so that we can all work together to imagine what a distinct Japanese Muslim Identity would look like?
Whether it is our brothers in Pakistan, Malaysia or Qatar
Each has a distinct culture and a beautiful expression of Islam.
Not everything is haram!
In fact, Islam teaches us that most things are Halal!
Japan does not need to give up it's identity to become the same as the Arabs, or any other Muslim country.
Japan can be Japan.
Islam can purify the Japanese culture.
Rid it of what is harmful
Beautify what is good
Islam has the power to transform Japan.
and an Islamic Japan has the power to transform the world!
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