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PROPOSAL OF

MATSUYAMA MASJID PROJECT

EHIME, JAPAN

2015

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1. INTRODUCTION

Matsuyama is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture and the largest city in

Shikoku Island instead of Tokushima (Tokushima Pref.), Kochi (Kochi Pref.) and

Takamatsu (Kagawa Pref). Matsuyama has a population of about 520,000 people with a

density of 1,205/km2. This city is famously known for the Japan’s Oldest Hot Spring

known as Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle. Matsuyama is 1 hour 30 minutes and 50

minutes away from Tokyo and Osaka by plane, respectively as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig 1 Location of Matsuyama

The Matsuyama Islamic & Culture Center (MICC) is a non-profit organization

in Matsuyama that supports the welfare of the Muslim community, manages annual

Islamic events and perform the cultural exchange between Muslims and Japanese

community in Matsuyama as well as responsible to da’wah activities in Matsuyama.

The MICC was established by some Malaysian students together with Mr. Abu Mahdy

Sulaiman Hamanaka in the year of 1981.

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The population of foreigners in Matsuyama including Muslims from various

countries is growing every year. The current population of Muslims is about 152 people.

One of the main reasons of the population growth is the study opportunity promoted by

Ehime University to the Muslims countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, etc. In

addition, mixed or interfaith marriage between Muslims and Japanese also contribute to

this population growth. There are some Muslims from foreign countries come to

Matsuyama to work as well.

Since the establishment, MICC has been renting the house as the center to

perform the activities and the MICC had moved 3 times since then. Currently, it is

located at Heiwadori 2 Cho Me 6-3, Matsuyama City. Unfortunately, we are unable to

make all our activities in the house due to certain reasons. For instance, during Friday

prayer or other social gathering events, we have to borrow a larger room in the

university or rent a hall in the community center due to the limited space in the rented

house for the activities.

From these points of view mentioned above, we concluded that we should have

a permanent place of the Islamic cultural center with an appropriate space to increase

our quality services for the Muslims community where it can be utilized as a place of

worship (masjid) as well as a convenient cultural center for implementing some Islamic

education programs and social-economic activities. The other strategic thing, the place

should become as a da'wah center to promote the nature of Islam as Rahmatan Lil

Alamin for non-Muslims in Matsuyama and Ehime Prefecture as well. Finally, we

optimist and highly confident that the spread of Islam in Matsuyama will sharply grow

and being well developed in the future.

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2. VISSION

To be a model of Muslim community that strives to attain the highest ideals by

adherence to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

3. MISSION

a. To provide an appropriate and comprehensive training and

development for the Muslims community in Matsuyama.

b. To provide a premier social service that will enhance the well being of

both Muslims and non-Muslims.

c. To provide an efficient service and da’wah for Muslims and

non-Muslims in Matsuyama.

d. To develop and maintain an effective system for networking and

public relations with other groups to promote MICC.

e. To educate the public on the religion of Islam.

4. REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING A MASJID

Matsuyama Islamic Culture Center (MICC) is seeking to establish the first

permanent and official masjid in Matsuyama, Japan. That building is established to

provide religious and social services for the Muslims community in Matsuyama and

clarify the message of Islam for non-Muslims as well.

Recently, MICC conducts all activities in a rented house as shown in Fig. 2. As

the number of Muslims in Matsuyama is increasing, the house is not enough to

accommodate Muslims who want to conduct Friday prayers. In addition, the

social-economic activities such as the halal food shop, meeting, etc are conducted also

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in a very limited space. Moreover, recent conversations about Islam and Muslims in

several mass medias has increased the interest of Japanese people to know about Islam.

Therefore, an existance of a masjid becomes very urgent in order to strengthen da’wah

activities as well as Islamic culture information in Matsuyama.

Fig 2 Current place for all MICC activities in Matsuyama

5. MUSLIM POPULATION IN MATSUYAMA

Current Muslims populations in Matsuyama are 152 people. The distribution of

population based on country is shown in Fig. 3. MICC expects that the Muslims

population will constantly increases beyond 2015.

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Fig 3 Distribution of Muslims population in 2015

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3 3 2 1 1

Indonesian Malaysian Bangladeshi Japanese Pakistani

Malian Egyptian Malagasy India

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6. MICC ACTIVITIES

DA’WAH AND EDUCATION

Learning Islamic Teaching for men and women in separate

events (known as ‘USRAH’)

Learning Islamic Teaching for children (known as KIDS

PROGRAM)

Daily hadith reading

Learning Japanese language for da’wah and Arabic from

BROTHER & SISTERHOOD

Learning event on Saturdays for

women (known as ‘Usrah’ by the

community).

Tilawah al-Quran online West Japan

(Nishi Nihon).

MICC

Activities

Community services network

Provide halal food for Muslim

community

Lodging place for Muslim visitors

Facilitate information for Hajj

Muslim Students Association Japan

(MSAJ) and Islamic Center Japan

Muslim solidarity campaign (eg.

Sports and recreation

Jogging after Fajr prayer on Sundays

Futsal/Table Tenis match

Cycling

Farewell party/barbeque

IBADAH

5 times daily prayer in Jemaah

Jum’ah prayer

Eid Fitr and Eid Adha celebration

Iftar gathering during Ramadan

Zakat al-fitr and al-maal

Monthly overnight stay in MICC

(Qiyamullail)

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7. PROPOSED LOCATION

Muslim community in Matsuyama has discussed and agreed that a land

mentioned below is a great opportunity to build a Matsuyama Masjid.

The location of the land is in Midori Machi 1 Cho Me, Matsuyama-shi 790

0806, Ehime, Japan. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the location of the proposed land. Fig. 6

shows the land that was proposed to buy for building Matsuyama Masjid.

Fig 4 Location of the proposed land in Matsuyama City Centre

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Fig 5 Location between the proposed land and local train station, Matsuyama

University and Ehime University

Fig 6 Proposed land for Matsuyama Masjid

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It was considered as a prospect location for masjid due to

a. the land is located 300 m from Ehime University and Matsuyama

University

b. the land is located 250 m from local train station, Teppocho Station

c. the land is located 1 km from City Centre of Matsuyama.

d. the price is reasonable such for Midori Machi area which is located

near city center of Matsuyama

e. the surrounding neighbors and local authority allowed us to build a

Islamic Culture Center as well as Masjid

f. such a good place for da’wah and spreading Islam in Matsuyama City

Center and Ehime Prefecture as well

8. FUNDING FOR FUTURE MASJIDS

8.1. Total Price

The total price of the Matsuyama Masjid Project is classified into two (2) parts

as shown in Table 1. The first part is land purchasing price and second is cost of

building the masjid. The first and second part are known as Phase A and Phase B,

respectively. The details are shown below.

Table 1 Estimation Cost of Matsuyama Masjid Project

PHASE PRICE (¥)

A (Land Purchasing) 26 000 000

B (Cost of Building the Masjid) 80 000 000

Total 106 000 000

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Here, MICC plans to build five (5) floors building in 127.89 m2 area which

consists of prayer rooms for men and women, multi-purpose hall and library, office of

imam and MICC and place for musafirs to stay at each floor. The future design concept

of Matsuyama Masjid is shown in Section 8.4.

8.2. Funding Method

Basically, the funding methods proposed for this project to be accomplished are

as below.

a. MICC Existing Fund

b. MICC Halal Products Business

c. Infaq and sadaqah from Muslim Community / Non Profit

Organizations (NPOs) in Japan

d. Infaq and sadaqah from Muslim Community / Non Profit

Organizations (NPOs) outside Japan

e. Others halal and unconditional sources

8.3. MICC Bank Account Details

The detail of the MICC Bank Account is shown below.

Name of the Bank : Japan Post Bank

Account Name : Matsuyama Islamic Culture Center

Account Number : 146941

Code : 16140

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All of the funding and donations can be made through this bank.

8.4 Future Design Concept of Matsuyama Masjid

The future design concept of Matsuyama Majid is shown in Fig. 7.

Fig 7 Future design concept of Matsuyama Masjid

The Matsuyama Masjid will be built consist of five (5) floors;

a. 1st

floor is parking area, ablution area, water closed.

b. 2nd

floor is prayer room for man, ablution area, water closed for man.

c. 3rd

floor is prayer room for woman, ablution area, water closed for

woman.

c. 4th

floor is administrator rooms such as imam, equipment room, library,

and kitchen room.

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e. 5th

floor is quest (musafir) room.

9. FINANCIAL STATUS

MICC’s masjid project fund was collected effectively since 2010, however

until 2013 the total fund still around 2 million yen. The total fund significantly

increased to 6 million yen in 2014 and 2015 as shown in Fig. 8. We are collected and

fund rising with many sources, for example internal donation campaign from Muslims

community in Matsuyama, halal food, weekly donation in Friday prayer, infaq and

sadaqah from Muslim community around Japan.

However the total amount of MICC fund is far enough to purchase and develop

the permanent Matsuyama Masjid. Continuous supports from Muslims around Japan

and outside Japan for the funding will greatly encourage MICC to make the dreams

come true.

Fig 8 Financial status of MICC until 2015

¥0

¥683,149

¥1,022,887 ¥1,337,273

¥2,208,150

¥5,947,852 ¥6,161,165

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

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10. EXPECTATIONS

In future, MICC will possibly become

a. a main center for Islamic culture study for Muslim and non-Muslims

in Matsuyama as well as in Shikoku Island.

b. a community service which flexible to develop networking and public

relation each others inner and outer Matsuyama city based on Islamic

rules.

c. one of gathering point of Muslim in Japan for study historical Islam,

and provide services for Muslims deceased (jenazah) in Matsuyama.

d. a permanent building to provided everyday service as 5 times prayer,

recites Al Quran and al-Hadits, gathering for conduct Friday prayer,

Eid Fitr and Eid Adha, provide Islamic wedding.

e. open halal restaurant, and halal food provided by Muslim and Muslim

dormitory for student or musyafir to short stay in Mastuyama city.

11. MICC CONTACT INFORMATION

The contact persons information are shown as below. Any inquiries can be

directly through them.

a. Sarif Hardaman (Chairman of MICC)

Language : Indonesian, English

Telephone. No. : +8190-9778 2547

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b. Fadhli Syahrial (Matsuyama Masjid Project Leader)

Language : Malaysian, English, Japanese

Telephone No. : +8190-2897 5659

c. Abdelaziz Ramadan (Arab Representative)

Language : Arabic, English

Telephone No. : +8190-1320 8890

d. Abu Mahdy Sulaiman Hamanaka (Advisor of MICC)

Language : Japanese, Malaysian, Arabic

Telephone No. : +8190-3788 5076

In order to get the general information and news about MICC, please visit the

websites mentioned below.

a. http://www2.dokidoki.ne.jp/islam/benri/m_matsuyama.htm

b. www.facebook.com/groups/matsuyamamicc/

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Future Concept Design of Matsuyama Masjid

Front view

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Side view

Top view

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Attachments MICC Activities Pictures

Muslims community in Matsuyama

Usrah on Saturday

Hadith recitation every day after Maghrib

Friday Prayer

Prayer in Dogo Park

Farewell party

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Weekly kids program on Sunday

Eid prayer and celebration

Iftar party

Cycling event

Halal foods and Islamic information

Ramadhan for kids

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