NAGOYA, JAPAN — On Sunday (10/3/2024), one of Dompet Dhuafa’s Dai Ambassadors assigned to Japan, Dr. Cecep Sobar Rochmat, S.Th.I. M.Pd.I. was assigned to give lectures, studies, and lead prayers during Ramadan at the Indonesian Mosque in Nagoya, Japan. The mosque was recently purchased by instalments by the Indonesian community who are members of the Indonesian Muslim Community (KMI) Nagoya. The mosque has also become a legal foundation, Yayasan Masjid Indonesia Nagoya, led by Ibu Dewi.
‘The existence of this mosque is very vital, because it is located in the centre of Nagoya City. The building was formerly used as a three-storey office building and its position is very strategic, approximately 5 minutes by foot from the historical site in Japan, the Nagoya Castle. It is also close to several train stations in the centre of Nagoya City. This makes the existence of this mosque very significant. Not only as a place of worship, but also as a centre for Islamic development and Islamic Centre. Because the plan, in this mosque will be provided with facilities for the Qur’an Education Park for converts and so on, ‘explained Cecep Sobar Rochmat, Dompet Dhuafa’s Dai Ambassador.
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The Indonesian community in Nagoya struggled to buy the building by seeking donations from various parties, both from Indonesians in Japan, and those in Indonesia. Until now, thank God, the first payment of 10 million yen has been completed. The remaining 27 million yen still needs to be paid to the second party. The deadline for the repayment of this mosque is December 2024. May Allah swt make it easy to pay off the mosque.
The opening ceremony began with a prayer led by Dr Cecep Sobar Rochmat, in gratitude to Allah swt. A sense of happiness for the opening of this mosque was marked by the cutting of tumpeng by the Chairperson of the Nagoya Indonesian Mosque Foundation, Mrs Dewi and then the first piece was given to Ustaz Cecep as Dompet Dhuafa’s Dai Ambassador. Furthermore, Ustaz Cecep gave a speech as a sign of the beginning of the opening of the Indonesian Mosque Nagoya MINA.
The opening of the mosque was attended by Indonesians consisting of doctoral, postgraduate, and undergraduate students, interns, as well as Indonesians who have been residents in Japan for a long time. Some are even married to Japanese citizens. They were all very enthusiastic in participating in the opening ceremony and Tarhib Ramadan.
The opening of the mosque began with Zuhur prayer in congregation, then prayers and the symbolic opening of the Indonesian Mosque Nagoya, the cutting of tumpeng (rice cone), the performance of Indonesian children in tilawah and nasyid, and lunch with the congregation of about 150 people, tarhib lecture by Ustaz Cecep, and continued with Asr prayer, and ended with religious questions and answers. The congregation admitted that they were very happy and excited because their meeting and friendship with other Indonesians helped them to fulfil their longing for their homeland.
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Ramadan activities will continue for a month, starting from the Asr prayer, pre-breakfast studies which include Qur’anic and tafsir studies, fiqh studies, Maghrib, Isha, Tarawih and tadarus prayers. In addition, there are also Qur’anic Education Park activities for children and teenagers, as well as Friday prayers and Eid prayers. Hopefully the Indonesian Mosque Nagoya can become an icon of Islamic revival and bring rahmatan lil ‘alamin Islamic da’wah in Japan.
Sunday, 10 March 2024
Cecep Sobar Rochmat, Dompet Dhuafa’s Dai Ambassador