Does language stand as a barrier between the Japanese man and Islam?
My name is Sa’eed Osako and I’m 40 years old
From Otsuka, Tokyo
And I studied at Mohamed Bin Sa’ood Islamic University in Riyad
He lived the life of ignorance
He wanted to find the truth
Buddhism did not fulfill Sa’eed’s soul
So he travelled to find what he seeks, and now he translates the Quran to Japanese
Before my conversion to Islam, I lived through a difficult time
And I felt heaviness on my chest
Dear Shaikh Sa’eed, how did you reach Islam?
And how did you cope with Islam with the extreme business life here in Japan?
I attended the college of Indian Philosophy
basically, college of Buddhism!
there you find the children of Buddhist Monks and so
After I attended this college, I felt that it will not benefit me in any of my goals!
Which was finding out the reason for this life and how to live..
So I left school
And I left japan to go to India
He travelled to India searching for the truth
And what would rest his soul
However, he failed in his mission and did not find any answers to his questions
Then he went to China, and for the first time, met a group of Muslims
I lived with them!
I ate from their food
And drank with them
and I was 20 at the time
I couldn’t imagine that Islam would give me what I was looking for
But bit by bit
I started reading, searching and studying about Islam
I thought it was a barbaric religion that was far away from the modern Japan and the whole world
But my view changed after I found the truth!
I never knew that Islam or the Middle East and the Arab world had any principles or laws
And one day while he was at a Japanese library
He found telephone numbers for Islamic organizations in Japan
He was shocked!
I didn’t imagine that I’d find Muslims in Japan who are Japanese!
But I found centers, organizations and mosques!
So I asked them to send me books about Islam in Japanese..
And I started reading!
Islam is a complete religion!
Which doesn’t only teach morals!
And I found that it wasn’t just a religion like we as Japanese define religion, but it’s a complete way of life!
Then I started learning more about Islam and spending time with Muslims and I found that how Muslims behave is what Islam teaches them!
After a long search, he found truth in Islam
There wasn’t any Islamic center in his town or Muslims
So he decided to travel to Tokyo
I visited one of the Islamic centers there and told them that I’d like to convert to Islam
So I said the Shahada
And After that, the man working there told me “Congratulations! Now you’ve begun your new life!”
The Japanese people are like a complex machine!
Cannot be fixed except with special tools!
And that is how we should make Da’wa! We will not reach them until we follow the principles of Islam properly!
I’m proud that I’m a Muslim! And I’m a normal person who makes mistakes, forgets and gets lazy!
But I always try to follow and commit to the teachings of Islam and not just brag of being a Muslim with words!
Shaikh Sa’eed, I’d like to know the Ayat that most reached your heart!
The Ayat that most affected my heart are some Ayat from Surat Al Duha
“By the morning brightness”
“And [by] the night when it covers with darkness,”
“Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].”
“And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].”
“And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.”
“Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?”
“And He found you lost and guided [you],”
“And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.”
“So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].”
“And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].”
But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].
Shaikh Bin Othaymeen said some very nice words!
“Think about what Allah said in Surat Al Dhuhaa ‘Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?'”
“And He found you lost and guided [you], And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.”
“He did not say ‘helped you’ or ‘He guided you’ or ‘made you rich’ because if He had said that then it would’ve been only for the prophet Mohamed (PBUH) only
“And it’s not like that! but it’s for all human beings!”
What was the meaning you got from these Ayat?
Why did it reach your heart?
Every time I read these Ayat I’m reminded of the gift of guidance and Islam!
I’m not an orphan! My parents are still alive!
They haven’t converted to Islam yet, May Allah guide them
Through me..
But in fact I was an orphan in the sense that I didn’t have anyone to teach me
And I was literally lost
When I was searching for the correct way of living and a reason for living
I was lost but Allah gave me guidance
I was poor! and even after Islam I suffered from poverty for a long time!
And even when I studied in Saudi Arabia, I’ve been through times when I had nothing but 100 Riyal in my pocket
But now and after returning to Japan, I’m working at the Arabic Islamic center in Japan
And I’m living with my family in comfort and peace
I was in darkness
for a long time
and when I was told that I will begin my new life
I almost cried and prayed that I would live and die as Muslim believing in Allah
Shaikh Sa’eed, you spent a long time learning Arabic to read the Quran!
After learning Arabic, have you found any kind of joy in reading the Quran?
and joy in understanding Quran?
Of course joy in understanding the Quran is a result of knowing what everything means!
after I learned Arabic
I understood the importance in knowing this language to explain the teachings of Islam
And the deeper you got into Islam the better your understanding will grow
What made you believe in Islam?
Before I converted to Islam, I read about Islam in books translated to Japanese
I was interested more with the moral and behavioral side of Islam
I found that Mohamed (PBUH) is mercy, kindness and a great role model in his attitude
And he applies all the teachings of Islam as they are..
And I find that he is the most noble or holy person that I’ve read about in all the other books; like biographies and history books
And he’s the most holy person I’ve ever read about in my life! and that was what affected me most!
With us now is Shaikh Ayman..whom God willing will grow to teach us and teach our children about the Quran
And he’s the son of Shaikh Sa’eed, may Allah protect all his children..
How are you?
Alhamdulillah
Are you well?
How much do you know from the Quran by heart?
5
We’d like to hear Shaikh Ayman recite the Quran for us so we could enjoy and hear his beautiful voice
“We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased.”
“So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. ”
“And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer].”
“Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord.”
“And Allah is not unaware of what they do.”
What is amazing is that Sa’eed today plays a great role
and a great service for himself
he contribute in translating the meaning of Quran to Japanese
Yes, I said a great service to himself!
because whoever serves the Quran will be rewarded greatly!
Shaikh Sa’eed, I know that you’re a researcher and especially in the field of Quran
And you’re working on a project for Quran! I’d like to know about this project!
I contribute in translating the meanings of Quran to Japanese at the King Fahad Center in Madina, Saudi Arabia
And I’m working on it as a main translator..
Shaikh Sa’eed was hoping to organize a competition for memorizing the Quran in his area
To encourage the youth on memorizing the Quran, understanding Quran and applying the teachings of Quran in their lives
And that was what we’ve delegated to him as a mission in Da’wa
I thank you and especially Shaikh Fahad Al Kandary on his participation in this Quran competition
Quran and Islam have changed my life 180 degrees
Quran is my soul
Quran guides me in my life and helps me in bliss and woe..