Islam around the World

That Huaisheng Mosque in Guangzhou, being located at No. 56, Guangta Road, is one of the oldest mosques in China is not surprising, given that Guangzhou was where Islam was introduced to China in the 7th Century. It is established for remembering the prophet of Islam, Mohammed. So its name, Huaisheng, means 'remember the sage'. It is one of the four most well-known mosques in China, the other three being Yangzhou Crane Mosque, Quanzhou Kylin Mosque and Hangzhou Phoenix Mosque. Thus it is an excellent place to visit if you want to learn about Islamic culture in China.

Built in 627, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it covers an area of more than 2,966 square meters (3,547 square yards) and features six important buildings, the Imam Hall, the Wangyue Attic, the Covered Corridor, the Storehouse of Islamic Scripture, the Stone Steles Pavilion and the Light Tower.

It is also named Light Tower Mosque. The Light Tower is a minaret, which used to serve as a beacon for boats on the Zhujiang River. In addition, sailors often climb up to the minaret to observe the weather conditions. Although the mosque presents a typical architectural style of the Tang Dynasty, the Light Tower seems to develop a new school of its own, which is deeply influenced by Arabic architectural flavor, an attractive feature of the mosque.

Today, it still plays a very important role in Muslim life in Guanzhou, welcoming Muslims from all over the world, including many of the businessmen who attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair

In the 1970s, another "Islamic Boom" was set in motion, this time in the shade of "Arab Boom" after the 1973 oil crisis. After realizing the importance of the Middle East and its massive oil reserves for the Japanese economy, the Japanese mass media have since been giving big publicity to the Muslim World in general and the Arab World in particular[citation needed].

The Turks have been the biggest Muslim community in Japan until recently. Pre-war Japan was well known for its sympathy and favour towards Muslims in Central Asia, seeing in them an anti-Soviet ally. In those days some Japanese who worked in intelligence circles had contact with these Muslims. A few converted to Islam through these contacts, and embraced it after the war ended.

The Japanese invasion of China and South East Asian regions during the Second World War brought the Japanese in contact with Muslims. Those who embraced Islam through them returned to Japan and established in 1953, the first Japanese Muslim organisation, the Japan Muslim Association under the leadership of Sadiq Imaizumi. Its members, numbering sixty five at the time of inauguration, increased twofold before he died six years later.[citation needed]

The second president of the association was the Umar Mita. Mita was typical of the old generation, who learned Islam in the territories occupied by the Japanese Empire. He was working for the Manshu Railway Company[disambiguation needed], which virtually controlled the Japanese territory in the north eastern province of China at that time. Through his contacts with Chinese Muslims, he became a Muslim in Peking. When he returned to Japan after the war, he made the Hajj, the first Japanese in the post-war period to do so. He also made a Japanese translation of the meaning of the Qur'an from a Muslim perspective for the first time. Aljazeera also did a documentary regarding Islam and Japan called "Road to Hajj - Japan".[5]

Tired of the material life, Japanese youth are increasingly converting to Islam, setting a new balance between their life and religious beliefs.

“That was nothing but a divine revelation,” Masashi Nagano, a 28-year-old Japanese Muslim, told The Japan Times on Monday (17/12).

Born and brought up in a society with predominantly Shinto and Buddhist undertone, Nagano hated religion as a child.

He was appalled by the atrocities perpetrated by Japanese terrorist cult Aum Shinrikyo, including the 1995 poison gas attack on the Tokyo subway system that killed a dozen people and sickened thousands of commuters.

Read more: www.themuslimtimes.org/2012/12/religion/japanese-youth-increasingly-convert-to-islam-nu-indonesia#ixzz2eBE4lssC

Masjid (mosque) is place of worship of Allah - the Only God of this universe -

Masjid is also a center of Muslim Ummah (community) in each area. Muslims gather in masjids for performing the Salat (prayer) & to deepen their knowledge about Islam. Children & newly converted Muslims, learn about Islam & reading the Holy Quran. Programs for lectures of renowned Muslim scholars are also arranged in most Masjids.

In Japan, there are about 60 Masjids (as of December 2010), most of which are built in last 20 years. The 1st Masjid in Japan was built in 1935 in Kobe (port city near Osaka), & 2nd in 1938 in Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. After the gap of about 30 years, some Masjids were built in 1960s. Masjid building rush was started after 1990, when foreign Muslims (most of whom came to Japan in 80s) became economically established & settled their roots in the Japan's soil. Many of these foreign Muslims have married to Japanese converted Muslims. Alhamdolillah, the Japanese Muslim community is increasing steadily in Japan. Masjids are the centers of these small communities, scattered throughout Japan. These Masjids are not only the place of prayers for these Muslims, but also a place of study, especially for converted Muslims & new generation. Most of the Masjids have facilities for women & children.

Ramadan in Greenland: The only Muslim in the island fasts for 21 hours

Friday August 12, 2011 06:11:38 PM, Agencies

Nuuk: Wassam Azaqeer, a Lebanese, who lives in a country surrounded by icebergs called “Greenland”, is the only Muslim in this state who is fasting daily for 21 hours with full determination.



Greenland is the largest island in the world; lies between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean; a self-governing province of Denmark.



According to an Arab TV report, Wassam Azaqeer, who is living in Greenland from the past several years and has been called “Arab Columbus” as he is the only Arab Muslim who not only managed to live in Greenland-despite the long and difficult journey, but also running a successful business in the capital city of Greenland called Nuuk.



Wassam, is running his own restaurant where he receives 200 customers each day.



The month of the Ramadan, this year, came in summer so Wassam has to fast for 21 hours and after Iftaar he only got 2 hours to prepare Suhur - the pre-dawn meal to start next fast.



In these 2 hours Wassam, also has to offer the Maghrib and Isha prayers.