Professor Kamal Okuda's Journey to Islam
Kamal
Japan
Previous Religion: None (Atheist)
My Life Before Islam
A Period of Personal "Jahiliyyah": Professor Okuda describes his life before Islam as a time of "ignorance" in a spiritual sense. While he possessed high academic knowledge and professional success, he felt he was missing the ultimate truth regarding the purpose of existence.
Cold Academic Interest: His relationship with Islam began from a purely research-oriented perspective during his university years. He specialized in studying Islamic legislation and conducted legal comparisons with secular systems, never imagining he would one day embrace the faith.
The Identity Barrier: As a Japanese man raised in a completely different culture, he felt a strong psychological and identity barrier. He viewed himself strictly as a Japanese researcher studying the culture of "others," without any personal connection to the religion.
The Moment of Guidance
The Call of the Quran: The Quranic verses were the first to penetrate his heart. He was fascinated by the precision, comprehensiveness, and respect for human dignity found in Divine legislation, which transformed his academic admiration into a spiritual attraction.
The Journey to Aleppo: He moved to Syria to deepen his studies, where he met a teacher who served as a living example of Islamic ethics. In this teacher's conduct, he saw the practical and ideal application of everything he had read in books.
A Moment of Self-Reflection: While at a mosque in Aleppo, the Adhan (call to prayer) was announced. He left the mosque out of hesitation because he was not a Muslim. However, standing outside in the heat, he asked himself a life-changing question: "I love this religion, I study it, and I see it as the key to the future of humanity—so what is stopping me from entering it?"
The Greatest Gift: He declared his Islam at that moment, describing guidance as the "greatest gift" he had ever received, considering it his true date of birth.
Reflections
The Philosophy of the Straight Path: Professor Okuda believes the essence of the Quran is summarized in the plea for guidance to the "Straight Path" (Al-Sirat al-Mustaqim). He emphasizes that this path is not for Muslims alone but is a lifeline and a source of happiness for the entire world.
The Role Model on Campus: As a prominent professor at the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo, he has become an ambassador for Islam through his character and knowledge, striving to correct the misconceptions spread by global media.
The Fruit of Silent Dawah: His high moral standards and distinguished teaching have led more than ten of his Japanese students to embrace Islam. He focuses on breaking the communication barriers between the Japanese people and the Muslim world.
Human Equality: He deeply believes that Islam is the religion of dignity. The Quran taught him that all humans are equal, created from dust, and that no one is superior to another except through piety and righteous deeds.