A peculiar embrace of #hijab in the Netherlands!

🔹 Rows of Dutch women lining up behind the doors of a hijab boutique in Amsterdam!
(A boutique here refers to a fashion and women's clothing exhibition)

🔹 The positive functions of hijab and the crises stemming from unveiledness are gradually leading Western women to appreciate and understand the value of hijab.

#HijabFashion
#CulturalUnderstanding
#Modesty
#WesternPerspective
#rahyafte

🌐 @rahyafte_en

🔺 Shimoyama Shiguro and the Spread of Islamic Teachings, Introducing Islam

Reporting from Rahyafte (Comprehensive Platform for Missionaries and New Muslims), according to "Nippon," Shimoyama Shiguro, a newly converted Japanese Muslim who discovered Islam thousands of miles away from his homeland during his travels to Sudan, is now dedicating his life to expanding Islamic teachings and presenting a true image of Islam to his fellow countrymen.

Shiguro, who teaches Islam and the Quran in Tokyo's largest mosque, shares his thoughts: "In my belief, Japanese people currently do not have a proper understanding of Islam. I even think that Japan has inherited to some extent the biased European perspective on Islam."

He adds, "For example, the interpretation of 'Either the Quran or the sword' has taken root in the minds of many Japanese, becoming a significant obstacle to understanding Islam correctly. Especially after the September 11th incident and media activities, Islam has transformed into a 'terrifying' religion for many people."

Shiguro first encountered Islam during his trip to Sudan as a young student. There, he met people who, despite not understanding a word of his speech, treated him with complete hospitality. The Japanese convert reflects, "Africans I met were Muslims, and their dignified behavior and hospitality left a profound impact on me. Later, I was astonished to realize that their extraordinary kindness stemmed from Islamic teachings."

Upon returning to Japan, Shiguro met an Iraqi Muslim student at the University of Tokyo, which was the final catalyst for him to feel the need to embrace Islam. He recalls, "This experience was the starting point for my transformation into the person I am today. Honestly, before becoming a Muslim, I had no belief in God. However, since joining the Islamic community and worshiping alongside Muslims of various ethnicities, I felt the miraculous experience of Islam."

Shiguro emphasizes, "I understood that the reason we pray together in organized rows is rooted in the lofty teachings of Islam regarding justice, equality, and prioritizing the needs of others over our own needs. This belief helps humans break free from their self-centered and selfish thinking."

As an Islamic Studies and Quran professor at the University of Tokyo actively involved in establishing the Islamic Center in Japan, Shiguro highlights, "These teachings imprinted Islam in my heart because Islam places great emphasis on righteous behavior and performing good deeds for others, which is highly valuable." He believes that interacting with Muslims can be a turning point for the Japanese to better understand and appreciate Islam.

The Japanese Muslim also describes mosques, essential symbols of Islam: "Many people visit mosques to admire the artistic elements, but witnessing the beauty of a mosque can also be a starting point for an individual's journey towards Islam."

Shiguro concludes, "I am determined to do everything in my power to remove the dust of doubt and pessimism from the face of Islam in the minds of the Japanese people, providing a correct understanding of this religion."

Islam made its appearance in Japan in the 1920s when around 100 Turkish Muslims migrated from Russia. By the 1930s, the number of Muslims in Japan reached approximately a thousand, with diverse origins. Another wave of migration in the 1980s, primarily from Pakistan and Bangladesh, significantly increased the Muslim population in Japan. Currently, Muslims make up around 120,000 of Japan's 127 million population. #JapaneseMuslim #IslamInJapan #CulturalUnderstanding #SpreadOfIslam 🕌