Muslim Marriage Japan
Maryam married Bambang Harianto, an Indonesian worker who originally worked in one of the industries in Hamamatsu, on December 16, 2001. Five days earlier he had pronounced two sentences of shahada witnessed by the Hamamatsu recitation.
Maryam's marriage with Bambang took place unique and seemed strange to most Japanese people, especially for Maryam's parents. When Bambang ventured to propose to Maryam, the prospective in-laws did not comment. Confused. Because young Japanese women usually live together before marriage (or even not married forever but live together with the same partner or change partners). Moreover, Maryam knew Bambang for less than two months. But the foundation of young Bambang was good in his faith, so even though his father-in-law was confused, the marriage was held in Bambang's hometown, Pasuruan, East Java, through the mediation of the guardian of the judge.
From this blessed marriage Mary and Bambang (meanwhile) are blessed with two children, each named Sakinah (born in 2002) and Abdullah Alim (Born in 2004). The faces of these two tiny servants of God are quite unique. White and rather narrow-eyed like Maryam, but occasionally speaking Indonesian follows his father.
What makes Mary interested in Islam? Initially simple. Maryam has a hobby of dancing. This hobby drove him to meet Indonesian people in cultural events. In a number of interactions, he wondered why the Indonesian people he met did not eat pork and also did not drink alcohol or sake. In fact, for most Japanese people, alcohol is part of everyday culture.
Then, after the events of the September 11, 2001 WTC, Maryam became increasingly curious about Islam. Why is Islam linked to terrorism? Why are Muslims identified with violence? Then armed with this anxiety, Maryam came to a meeting attended by Japanese people and Indonesian people who, among others, discussed the issue.
Unexpectedly, Allah SWT had the power, from the interaction with Indonesian Muslims in these discussion forums, he met Bambang Harianto, the young Pasuruan who was now her husband, in mid-October 2001. From these interactions, he also came to the conclusion that the events of 11 September 2001 had nothing to do with Islam. Indonesian Muslims in Hamamatsu look friendly, warm, and have no impression of being a terrorist at all. Not as bad as described by mass media.
According to Maryam, Islam is not widely known in Japan. Because in Japan there are no religious lessons. He himself knew Islam for the first time precisely from history lessons at school. When he was in high school, there were Muslim students who attended student exchanges at his school. Where he asked a lot and exchanged ideas about religion and the problem of divinity. Then, he also knew Islam from the presentation of his university classmates who presented about Islam as part of their college assignments ...
To the knowledge of Maryam as a native Japanese Muslim, today's Japanese are generally not fanatical about one religion. Or even not religious at all. They can be born as Shintoists, then when married using Christian rituals, and when they die choose Buddhist rituals. So, accepting the one concept of God in the style of Islam is a big problem for Japanese people. According to Maryam, Japanese people know the concept of God but are different from Islamic monotheism. Some feel the need for God but they don't have the tools to access God. However, in general if they get an adequate explanation of Islam, they are also not too difficult to accept.
Instilling the belief in the existence of God as the Creator and the Messenger of Allah Muhammad as His messenger is a long journey for Japanese Muslims. According to a number of Japanese converts, before becoming Muslim, most Japanese did not believe or were unsure of the existence of God. They believe that everything that has been and will be obtained solely because of the results of their own efforts. So, life feels empty. When they feel the need for God at a time, they are confused where to find Him. So, they seek God everywhere and determine which God can be asked for help. Because of this custom, many Japanese have gods and talismans as a manifestation of their need for God. "That is why I say that the hardest part of teaching Islam to Japanese people is to digest this one Godhead concept," Maryam explained.
The use of Muslim clothing sometimes still invites questions. Some Japanese feel strange about using headscarves and Muslim clothing. For example, during the summer (natsu), in Hamamatsu it can reach 38 degrees Celsius. When all Japanese people in minimal clothing, the presence of dressed Muslim women 'meetings' clearly invited strangeness. In fact, usually during the summer, Muslim women use clothing that is not thick but absorbs sweat. Likewise with the hijab, it is endeavored not to be thick, but certainly not short and not transparent.
Maryam-san includes Muslim women who always wear Muslim clothing in all places and circumstances. He was not ashamed to wear a robe and wide hijab to go to the market and other public places. For those who did not know him and did not see his face, he would not have thought that he was a Japanese Muslim. In the shadow of most Japanese citizens, such profiles are merely from the Middle East or North Africa.
Despite being very happy to live in Islam, Maryam also has criticism of Muslims, especially Indonesian Muslims. According to him, there are still many Indonesian Muslims who have not practiced Islam properly. "I did not say I was right, but this is very unfortunate because actually Indonesian Muslims are very potential and very facilitated by Allah to worship. Especially in terms of the number of the largest in the world. Because, when a Muslim does not practice Islamic teachings or even do evil, sometimes Japanese people, as I know, easily attribute it to Islam and not the person himself. Finally the bad is the name of Islam and not the individual concerned. "It is still difficult for Japanese people to separate Islam and Muslims," said Maryam.
The next criticism of Maryam, from her observations when visiting Indonesia, Indonesian youths tend to behave in western ways. "Be proud of being a Muslim. Don't lean too far west, "Maryam said. However, Maryam was also happy with Indonesia for many things. Not only because her husband is Indonesian. But he was amazed by the warmth and family atmosphere of the Indonesian people. "I also like Indonesian food and have a favorite fruit called mango," Maryam said.
Maryam is so in love with Indonesia. The same is true of his love for Japan. However, so far he has only visited Indonesia twice. To her husband's hometown in Pasuruan. And Maryam is quite popular in Pasuruan. Because when he was there, he was interviewed by local media who felt strange, because there was a Japanese woman who converted to Islam and married a native of Pasuruan.
Maryam's love for Indonesia and Indonesian Muslims have a sincere foundation. He saw Indonesian Muslims, especially those in Japan, very sociable and did not show differences. Somewhat different from most Japanese people who usually can't immediately get along. It takes little by little to be able to trust each other. "So, take advantage of social capital and flexibility in the Indonesian-style approach to menda'wahi Japanese. Because actually Japanese people are very happy to learn foreign cultures, "added Maryam.
Finally, Maryam-san advised Indonesian Muslims, "Please help us converts in Japan. Send the da'i and help build Islamic education in Japan. Don't be too stingy with the knowledge you have. I see many smart people of Islam in Indonesia. So, share the knowledge with Japan, "Maryam said.
* This story was told directly by the speaker to Heru Susetyo at his residence in Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan on October 9, 2006. The resource person told his story in Japanese with translational assistance into Indonesian by her husband Bambang Harianto and Indonesian Muslim figures in Hamamatsu , Dr. Ratno Nuryadi. Additional data is told by Ervin Hidayati, an Indonesian mother who is also a teaching activist in Hamamatsu - Japan.
Maryam's marriage with Bambang took place unique and seemed strange to most Japanese people, especially for Maryam's parents. When Bambang ventured to propose to Maryam, the prospective in-laws did not comment. Confused. Because young Japanese women usually live together before marriage (or even not married forever but live together with the same partner or change partners). Moreover, Maryam knew Bambang for less than two months. But the foundation of young Bambang was good in his faith, so even though his father-in-law was confused, the marriage was held in Bambang's hometown, Pasuruan, East Java, through the mediation of the guardian of the judge.
From this blessed marriage Mary and Bambang (meanwhile) are blessed with two children, each named Sakinah (born in 2002) and Abdullah Alim (Born in 2004). The faces of these two tiny servants of God are quite unique. White and rather narrow-eyed like Maryam, but occasionally speaking Indonesian follows his father.
What makes Mary interested in Islam? Initially simple. Maryam has a hobby of dancing. This hobby drove him to meet Indonesian people in cultural events. In a number of interactions, he wondered why the Indonesian people he met did not eat pork and also did not drink alcohol or sake. In fact, for most Japanese people, alcohol is part of everyday culture.
Then, after the events of the September 11, 2001 WTC, Maryam became increasingly curious about Islam. Why is Islam linked to terrorism? Why are Muslims identified with violence? Then armed with this anxiety, Maryam came to a meeting attended by Japanese people and Indonesian people who, among others, discussed the issue.
Unexpectedly, Allah SWT had the power, from the interaction with Indonesian Muslims in these discussion forums, he met Bambang Harianto, the young Pasuruan who was now her husband, in mid-October 2001. From these interactions, he also came to the conclusion that the events of 11 September 2001 had nothing to do with Islam. Indonesian Muslims in Hamamatsu look friendly, warm, and have no impression of being a terrorist at all. Not as bad as described by mass media.
According to Maryam, Islam is not widely known in Japan. Because in Japan there are no religious lessons. He himself knew Islam for the first time precisely from history lessons at school. When he was in high school, there were Muslim students who attended student exchanges at his school. Where he asked a lot and exchanged ideas about religion and the problem of divinity. Then, he also knew Islam from the presentation of his university classmates who presented about Islam as part of their college assignments ...
To the knowledge of Maryam as a native Japanese Muslim, today's Japanese are generally not fanatical about one religion. Or even not religious at all. They can be born as Shintoists, then when married using Christian rituals, and when they die choose Buddhist rituals. So, accepting the one concept of God in the style of Islam is a big problem for Japanese people. According to Maryam, Japanese people know the concept of God but are different from Islamic monotheism. Some feel the need for God but they don't have the tools to access God. However, in general if they get an adequate explanation of Islam, they are also not too difficult to accept.
Instilling the belief in the existence of God as the Creator and the Messenger of Allah Muhammad as His messenger is a long journey for Japanese Muslims. According to a number of Japanese converts, before becoming Muslim, most Japanese did not believe or were unsure of the existence of God. They believe that everything that has been and will be obtained solely because of the results of their own efforts. So, life feels empty. When they feel the need for God at a time, they are confused where to find Him. So, they seek God everywhere and determine which God can be asked for help. Because of this custom, many Japanese have gods and talismans as a manifestation of their need for God. "That is why I say that the hardest part of teaching Islam to Japanese people is to digest this one Godhead concept," Maryam explained.
The use of Muslim clothing sometimes still invites questions. Some Japanese feel strange about using headscarves and Muslim clothing. For example, during the summer (natsu), in Hamamatsu it can reach 38 degrees Celsius. When all Japanese people in minimal clothing, the presence of dressed Muslim women 'meetings' clearly invited strangeness. In fact, usually during the summer, Muslim women use clothing that is not thick but absorbs sweat. Likewise with the hijab, it is endeavored not to be thick, but certainly not short and not transparent.
Maryam-san includes Muslim women who always wear Muslim clothing in all places and circumstances. He was not ashamed to wear a robe and wide hijab to go to the market and other public places. For those who did not know him and did not see his face, he would not have thought that he was a Japanese Muslim. In the shadow of most Japanese citizens, such profiles are merely from the Middle East or North Africa.
Despite being very happy to live in Islam, Maryam also has criticism of Muslims, especially Indonesian Muslims. According to him, there are still many Indonesian Muslims who have not practiced Islam properly. "I did not say I was right, but this is very unfortunate because actually Indonesian Muslims are very potential and very facilitated by Allah to worship. Especially in terms of the number of the largest in the world. Because, when a Muslim does not practice Islamic teachings or even do evil, sometimes Japanese people, as I know, easily attribute it to Islam and not the person himself. Finally the bad is the name of Islam and not the individual concerned. "It is still difficult for Japanese people to separate Islam and Muslims," said Maryam.
The next criticism of Maryam, from her observations when visiting Indonesia, Indonesian youths tend to behave in western ways. "Be proud of being a Muslim. Don't lean too far west, "Maryam said. However, Maryam was also happy with Indonesia for many things. Not only because her husband is Indonesian. But he was amazed by the warmth and family atmosphere of the Indonesian people. "I also like Indonesian food and have a favorite fruit called mango," Maryam said.
Maryam is so in love with Indonesia. The same is true of his love for Japan. However, so far he has only visited Indonesia twice. To her husband's hometown in Pasuruan. And Maryam is quite popular in Pasuruan. Because when he was there, he was interviewed by local media who felt strange, because there was a Japanese woman who converted to Islam and married a native of Pasuruan.
Maryam's love for Indonesia and Indonesian Muslims have a sincere foundation. He saw Indonesian Muslims, especially those in Japan, very sociable and did not show differences. Somewhat different from most Japanese people who usually can't immediately get along. It takes little by little to be able to trust each other. "So, take advantage of social capital and flexibility in the Indonesian-style approach to menda'wahi Japanese. Because actually Japanese people are very happy to learn foreign cultures, "added Maryam.
Finally, Maryam-san advised Indonesian Muslims, "Please help us converts in Japan. Send the da'i and help build Islamic education in Japan. Don't be too stingy with the knowledge you have. I see many smart people of Islam in Indonesia. So, share the knowledge with Japan, "Maryam said.
* This story was told directly by the speaker to Heru Susetyo at his residence in Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan on October 9, 2006. The resource person told his story in Japanese with translational assistance into Indonesian by her husband Bambang Harianto and Indonesian Muslim figures in Hamamatsu , Dr. Ratno Nuryadi. Additional data is told by Ervin Hidayati, an Indonesian mother who is also a teaching activist in Hamamatsu - Japan.
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