Muhammad Sawada
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | January 1924 |
| Death | January 10, 2012 |
| Scholarly Information | |
| Works | Translation of the Holy Qur'an into Japanese • Five mountains located in Nikko are symbols of the Five (a) • Nara expresses the greatness of the Prophet of Islam (s) |
Muḥammad Qāʾim Ṣafā Fumio Sawada (Arabic: محمد قائم صفا فومیو ساوادا), known as Muhammad Sawada (1924-2012), was one of the early Shi'as of Japan and the translator of the Qur'an into Japanese.
Sawada was born in January 1924 in Gifu, central Japan. After graduating from high school and university, he studied and researched Shintoism and its branches, producing various works in this field. At the age of fifty, after studying and researching Islamic teachings, he converted to Islam. Seven years later, he chose the Twelver Shi'a denomination and subsequently engaged in efforts to disseminate Shi'a teachings. He passed away on 10 January 2012.[1]
His most important contributions include translating the Qur'an into Japanese three times, as well as publishing and propagating Hadith al-Thaqalayn and hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (a).
Some of his works include: The Five Mountains of Nikkō as a Symbol of the Five (a), Nara as a Reflection of the Greatness of the Prophet of Islam (s), and Inari as an Indicator of the Brilliance of Islam.[2]
Sawada was a member of the General Assembly of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) World Assembly. He had been associated with the Assembly since 1980, having participated in its summits in Tehran and Qom several times and visited Iran a total of eight times.
The then Secretary-General of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) World Assembly, in a condolence message on the occasion of the passing of Muhammad Sawada, described him as one of the righteous servants of God, a refined and pure scholar, possessed of moral virtues, righteousness, and practical integrity, who spent the years of his blessed life in spreading and disseminating the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in the cultured and civilized land of Japan.[3]
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Iran to Japan sent a condolence message addressed to "Ibrahim Tatsuichi Sawada" and expressed his appreciation for his sincere and devoted efforts.[4]
Ibrahim Tatsuichi Sawada, his son, studied at the Qom Seminary and is the director of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) Assembly in Tokyo.[5]
Notes
- ↑ The Passing of the Translator of the Holy Qur'an into Japanese, Abna News Agency.
- ↑ Interview with Sawada Safa, p. 155-157.
- ↑ The Secretary-General of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) World Assembly offered his condolences on the passing of the Japanese scholar. Afghan Voice Agency.
- ↑ Message of Manuchihr Muttaki on the Occasion of the Passing of the Japanese Member of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) World Assembly, Shia News.
- ↑ "Center for Japan Studies Offers Condolences on the Passing of the Leader of Japan's Shi'a Community, Center for Japan Studies.
References
- Interview with Sawada Safa, Muhammad al-Qa'im; Qur'an Translation Center; Tarjumān-i Waḥy Journal, Shahriwar 1380 (August–September 2001), Issue No. 9.
- The Passing of the Translator of the Holy Qur'an into Japanese. Center for Japan Studies. Published: 2012-01-13.
- "Center for Japan Studies Offers Condolences on the Passing of the Leader of Japan's Shi'a Community. Center for Japan Studies.
- Message of Manouchehr Mottaki on the Occasion of the Passing of the Japanese Member of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) World Assembly, Shia News. Published: January 12, 2012.
- "The Secretary-General of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) World Assembly offered his condolences on the passing of the Japanese scholar." Afghan Voice Agency (AVA). Accessed: 2026/08/21.