ANSAN, SOUTH KOREA — In the middle of the colorful Ansan City in South Korea, there is a place of worship that blends with the beauty of modern architecture and the spirit of cross-cultural harmony. It is the Islamic Center Mosque, a place that is not only a place of worship, but also a meeting center for the Muslim community living in the vicinity.
On a sunny day, the atmosphere at the Ansan Islamic Center Mosque became more colorful due to the presence of Ustaz Ihya Ulumudin, a Dai Ambassador from Dompet Dhuafa who is also a Quranic teacher in the archipelago. The visit aimed to strengthen relations between Muslim communities in South Korea and Indonesia, as well as strengthen friendship between fellow children of the nation.
Ustaz Irfan as the high priest of the Ansan Islamic Center Mosque, who also came from Indonesia, warmly welcomed Ustaz Ihya’s arrival. They both then sat together for a casual discussion on various topics. Starting from the life of Muslims in South Korea to the challenges faced by the Muslim diaspora in maintaining their identity in a culturally different society.
One of the highlights of this visit was how the Dai Ambassador tried to incorporate elements of Indonesian culture into daily life at the Ansan Mosque. He did this by providing a picture of Muslim life in the archipelago that is full of tolerance, moderate, and upholds kinship in various contexts of social life. Ustaz Ihya conveyed this to a number of worshippers, so that he succeeded in creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere of friendship.
Not only that, the discussion between the Dai Ambassador and the mosque’s high priest also paved the way for an exchange of thoughts and experiences between the Indonesian and South Korean Muslim communities. They shared stories about worship practices, local traditions, and challenges faced by Muslim communities in both countries.
This visit was not only a meeting between two individuals, but also represented the broader relationship between Indonesia and South Korea. It is a clear example of how the exchange of culture and thought can strengthen family ties between countries, as well as deepen understanding between different communities.
Amidst the rumblings of global cultural exchange, visits like this inspire the importance of maintaining tolerance and interfaith harmony. The Ansan Islamic Center Mosque is a silent witness to the power of cross-cultural friendship, where the boundaries between countries and cultures are increasingly blurred, until all that remains is a sense of mutual respect and understanding.
Ustaz Ihya Ulumudin, Dompet Dhuafa Ambassador 2024