Lecture Notes: Sensei Sugimoto's Spiritual Journey

Introduction

• Special guest: Sensei Sugimoto and his wife Pur from Japan.
• Sensei Sugimoto shares his journey to Islam despite his Japanese background.

Sensei Sugimoto's Background

• Origin: Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
• Grew up in a family with Buddhist traditions.
• Encountered Islam at age 19 through a Muslim friend from Bangladesh.

First Encounter with Islam

• Visited Bangladesh and experienced a significant culture shock.
• Noticed strong family values and hospitality among the Muslim community.
• Returned to Japan and sought knowledge about Islam.

Discovery of the Quran

• Found a Japanese translation of the Quran in 1996 at a bookstore.
• Struck by the uniqueness and clarity of the Quran compared to other religious texts.
• Engaged with new concepts:
  • Ahira: Life after death.
  • Tauhid: The oneness of God.

Spiritual Revelation

• Realized the Quran states it is a book without doubt, which intrigued him.
• Contrasted concepts of life after death in Buddhism and Islam.
• Explored the concept of Allah and the significance of worshiping one God.
• Understood that many gods in Japanese culture refer to spirits, which aligns with Islamic beliefs about jinn.

The Journey to Embrace Islam

• Took one year to thoroughly read and question the Quran.
• Made the decision to embrace Islam after resolving his doubts.
• Emphasized the importance of personal experience in faith rather than ritual.

Marriage and Family

• Sensei Sugimoto met his wife Pur in Japan and they shared a mutual understanding of Islam.
• Pur learned more about Islam through her relationship with Sugimoto.

Challenges of Sharing Islam in Japan

• Sensei Sugimoto highlights the indifference of Japanese people towards religion.
• Aims to convey the message of the Quran to Japanese people despite challenges.

The Quran Translation Effort

• Translated the Quran into easy Japanese to make it accessible.
• Emphasizes the need for Japanese people to read and understand the Quran.
• Dreams of spreading the Quran so every household in Japan has a copy.

Understanding and Coexisting with Local Culture

• Discussed how cultural practices can coexist with Islamic beliefs.
• Shared an example of respecting non-Muslim rituals while maintaining Islamic principles.

Conclusion

• Sensei Sugimoto expresses hope for greater understanding of Islam in Japan.
• Encourages others to learn about Islam and its teachings.
• Importance of neighborly love and support in sharing the message of Islam.