Fukuoka Mosque Explained

Fukuoka Mosque
Native Name:福岡マスジド
Native Name Lang:ja
Map Type:Japan Fukuoka Prefecture
Map Size:220px
Map Relief:yes
Coordinates:33.62°N 130.4269°W
Religious Affiliation:Islam
Location:Fukuoka, Japan
Tradition:Sunni
Festivals:-->
Organizational Status:-->
Architecture Type:mosque
Date Destroyed:-->
Dome Quantity:1
Minaret Quantity:1
Elevation Ft:-->

The Fukuoka Masjid Al Nour Islamic Culture Center (Fukuoka Mosque)(アン ヌール イスラム文化センター 福岡マスジド) is the first mosque on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is located in Hakozaki, Higashi-ku in the city of Fukuoka. It was built in 2009, and officially opened on 12 April 2009. Fukuoka Mosque aims to serve about 1,000 Muslims in Fukuoka Prefecture, as well to serve people in Japan interested in Islam.

Building description

The first floor is mainly set for the men's prayer room, the second floor is the women's prayer room. On the basement level, there is a multi-purpose hall, a library, and a kitchen. The third floor has classrooms and a kitchen..

Activities

The mosque arranges daily prayers, Friday prayers, and Eid prayers on a regular basis. It occasionally, arranges program for conversion into Islam, Muslim marriage, and funeral prayers. The cultural wing of the mosque offers weekend Arabic language lessons and cooking classes once every three months. It also arranges seminars and dialogue sessions occasionally. Due to the difficulties of obtaining halal certificates in Japan, Fukuoka Mosque has taken to issuing certifications per local scholars' fatwa. The issuance of a free certification to a local restaurant that served both halal and non-halal food was criticized by a halal certification agency due to lack of adherence to stricter standards.[1]

History

Kyushu University Muslim Student Association (KUMSA) initiated the idea of building a mosque in 1998, and started collecting donations. In 2006, land was purchased, and a construction plan was started.[2] After a series of discussions with concerned neighbors,[2] the construction was started in 2008, and it was completed around a year later. After earthquakes in 2011 and 2016, Fukuoka Mosque was involved in relief efforts for affected communities.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies . 14 . 1 . 2024 . 177-202 . Fiqh aqalliyah as a legal alternative to Halal standardization in Japan as a non-majority Muslim country . Muhammad . Luthfi . Shobichatul . Aminah . M. . Zulifan .
  2. International Journal of Asian Studies . Islam and Muslims in “non-religious” Japan: caught in between prejudice against Islam and performative tolerance . Yoko . Yamashita . 15 February 2021 . Cambridge University Press.
  3. Activities and roles of mosques in Japan after the recent major earthquakes: A comprehensive study . Hitomu . Kotani . December 2023 . 20 . Progress in Disaster Science.