MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, FUKUOKA – Muhammadiyah Chairperson of Tabligh, Community Da’wa, Islamic Boarding Schools, and Hajj-Umrah Guidance, Saad Ibrahim, visited Fukuoka, Japan, on Tuesday, July 1 to strengthen Muhammadiyah global outreach and build cross-sector collaborations through the Muhammadiyah Special Branch (PCIM) of Japan. This visit is part of Muhammadiyah’s ongoing efforts to expand its international presence, especially in East Asia.
Chairperson of PCIM of Japan Mujahidin Ahmad, who accompanied Saad Ibrahim, explained that the visit had two main purposes, namely attending an event hosted by the Muhammadiyah Special Sub-Branch (PRIM) of Fukuoka, and meeting Satomi Ogata Sensei, a well-known Japanese figure who actively promotes halal food in Japan and has maintained a good relationship with Muhammadiyah.
“Japan has great potential, not only for spreading Islamic teachings but also for building partnerships in areas like agriculture, nursing, and education. We’ve outlined several practical programs during our recent meeting, aiming to make PCIM a bridge between Indonesia and Japan while also serving as Muhammadiyah’s global representative,” said Mujahidin.
Mujahidin stressed that members of Muhammadiyah in Japan are not only part of the diaspora but also represent Indonesia and the organization abroad.
“Our programs should directly respond to the challenges we face here,” added Mujahidin.
PCIM Japan is committed to creating tangible benefits for both Muhammadiyah members and the wider Japanese society. One of its major aspirations is to establish a Muhammadiyah mosque and school in Japan, which would mark the physical presence of the movement and serve as the first step toward creating Muhammadiyah institutions in Japan.
“The Central Board of Muhammadiyah welcomed our proposal, but they reminded us to take solid steps first in building the organization here. Muhammadiyah core value of Islam Berkemajuan (Progressive Islam) fits well with the work ethic and values of Japanese people, such as discipline and usefulness,” said Mujahidin.
“We are working to unite our energy and collaborate to build Muhammadiyah in Japan. We also hope that the Central Board of Muhammadiyah and Muhammadiyah universities in Indonesia will help us by sending students or staff through community service programs. This would make our partnerships more meaningful and help sub-branches grow stronger,” said Mujahidin.
