e-Risalah April - Jun 2024

Embarkingonthe Da’wah Journey USIM students’ role as tarawih imams in Osaka N ik Ahmad Nik Aziz, 25, and Wan Ahmad Mujahid Wan Fajrulhisham, 23, are two Bachelor of Qiraat Studies with Honours students at who have had an exciting experience in Osaka, Japan. They undertook industrial training at the Japan Da’wah Centre as tarawih imams. In addition to leading tarawih prayers, they and their colleagues conducted various da’wah activities as a way to spread the beauty of Islam to the local community. Every weekend, they engaged in street dawah in the afternoon and prepared iftar meals to share with the locals. Nik Ahmad said, “Many people, including non-Muslim friends, joined us for iftar. This is a form of da’wah to introduce the beauty of fasting and family harmony within Islam.” As an imam, Nik Ahmad also witnessed the shahadah of new Muslim converts. Additionally, he and his partner took on the responsibility of teaching the basics of Islam to them, such as how to perform ablution and pray. When asked about his feelings and hopes as a tarawih imam in Osaka, Nik Ahmad shared, “I am excited and honoured to challenge myself abroad. I hope that Allah grants me health so I can serve Islam while I am here.” Regarding advice from his mother, Nik Ahmad revealed, “Mom always advises me to learn as much as possible. Learn from both good and bad experiences. Always seek wisdom in everyday life. Do not be afraid to fail when trying something good, because fear itself means we have already failed.” Nik Ahmad and his colleague will be in Osaka for 40 days, from March 10 to April 20, 2024. They are staying in a house provided by the Japan Da’wah Centre to facilitate their da’wah activities there. Nik Ahmad hopes their efforts will be a starting point for more people to recognize and appreciate the beauty of Islam, no matter where they are. A hmad Iqbal Hadi Mohd Zamani, a student at the Faculty of Management and Leadership USIM, chose Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, to spread the message of Islam by delivering sermons and teaching the Quran to the surrounding community. A 23-year-old final-year student in the Da’wah and Islamic Management program, born in Gombak, Selangor, Iqbal began his industrial training on 18th March 2024, and is expected to complete it on 5th July 2024. Iqbal is accompanied by two other friends who are also undergoing Industrial Training at the same place: Muhammad Aiman Mohamad Noradi and Abdul Basit Mat Daik. “I chose Al Noor Mosque because I wanted to challenge myself and gain experience working abroad. This mosque attracted my attention due to its uniqueness, being a blend of various ethnicities, cultures, and different Islamic schools of thought, making it a unifying entity for the ummah,” said Iqbal. Differences in Islamic schools of thought and cultures often pose challenges in mosque management. The lack of preachers also makes the effort to spread da’wah difficult. However, the experience of learning about the various cultures of the different communities there is very valuable to him. “This experience is a very precious lesson, and I hope to use it for the benefit of the ummah in the future,” he added. Al Noor Mosque is not just a place of worship but also a da’wah centre in Christchurch. It serves as a tourist destination, offers classes for converts, and functions as an Islamic reference source. The Muslim community in Christchurch consists of over 30 ethnicities and various Islamic schools of thought, totalling around 4,000 people. Iqbal Expands the Message of Islam in New Zealand CampusNews 032