An Intimate Conversation with “Sheikh Ibrahim Sawada”

An intimate conversation with Sheikh Ibrahim Sawada, a Japanese cleric and convert to Islam, focusing on Quranic topics:

Ibrahim Sawada is a 38-year-old Japanese translator who has translated the 30th part (Juz’) of the Holy Qur’an. He is a Shia Muslim and has studied at the seminary in Qom for seven years. We had an interview with him, which you can read below:

• Could you please tell us which part (Juz’) of the Qur’an you translated and how long the process took?

I translated the 30th part (Juz’ 30) of the Holy Qur’an into Japanese, a process that took six months.

• We have heard that you have completed seminary studies up to the Master’s level. Is that correct?

Yes, I studied at the Islamic Seminary in Qom for seven years, and I completed the equivalent of a Master’s degree in seminary studies three years ago. Since then, I have returned to Japan.

• What was your main motivation for studying at the Islamic Seminary in Qom?

(He laughs) I am a Muslim, and naturally, I wanted to become familiar with the rulings of Islam. My curiosity about the religion, along with my father’s advice, led me to pursue studies in the Shi’a seminary.

• Who was your main motivator in the work of translating the Qur’an?

My father encouraged me to translate the Qur’an because he had written the entire Qur’an in his own style.

• Did you study other translations before working on your own?

Yes, I read Persian translations of the Qur’an, as well as “Tafsir al-Mizan” and “Tafsir-e-Nemuneh”.

• Has anyone in Japan ever done a Qur’anic translation before?

Unfortunately, no.

• What is the Japanese government’s reaction to your Islamic and Qur’anic activities?

The Japanese government is indifferent — it neither encourages nor prevents such activities.

• What effect has translating the Qur’an and becoming familiar with Islamic rulings had on your connection with God?

Spiritually, it has deepened my connection with God. At the same time, it has also made me feel distant — the more I study and research about Islam and God, the more I realize how small and insignificant I am before Him.

• Earlier, you mentioned that one of the reasons you chose to study in the seminary was your curiosity about Islam. Have the ambiguities you had about the religion been clarified now?

Yes, absolutely. I can confidently say that I have truly grasped and experienced the religion of Islam, and I have come to realize that it is one of the most rational and logical religions.

• Did you face any difficulties while translating the Qur’an?

One of the main challenges was the lack of collaborators who were both fluent in Japanese and familiar with Islamic sciences. Financial issues were also present in the background. But one of the most significant difficulties I faced was the difference in linguistic structure between Arabic or Persian and Japanese.

For example, in Arabic and Persian, imperative (command) forms are commonly used. However, in Japanese, this structure is not common, and Japanese people often find such expressions inappropriate or unnatural.

Also, in Iran, Muslims typically learn about religious duties and Qur’anic meanings from scholars and elders, so understanding the translation is not difficult for them. But in Japan, people have virtually no awareness of Islam — they don’t even know what the Day of Judgment is, and such concepts are completely unfamiliar to them.

In my opinion, Qur’anic translations should be explained and interpreted for the Japanese audience. Therefore, I have decided to start working on a tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur’an to help them fully understand Islam.

• Many readers may wonder: how did you become a Muslim? Could you explain that for us?

In 1972, after the oil crisis, the name of Islam spread for the first time across many countries. At that time, some Japanese people became curious about Islam, and my father was among those who researched and studied the religion. Fortunately, after his investigations, he concluded that he should become a Muslim, and he was particularly drawn to the Holy Qur’an.

I also followed my father and converted to Islam as a child. Since then, we have been observing Islamic traditions, such as reading the Qur’an during Ramadan.

• What language was the Qur’an you read in?

It was in English, translated by a Shia scholar. A person from India sent it to us, and that’s how it came into our hands.

I should also mention that some people believe Islam is a very strict and difficult religion. I personally disagree with that view.

• Why do some people have such a perception of Islam?

In my opinion, it may be because they feel that Islam is different from other religions.

• In what way?

In Islam, religious duties apply equally to everyone — ordinary people and religious scholars alike have the same obligations. But in religions like Christianity and Buddhism, the responsibilities of ordinary followers and clergy are separate. I think that’s why people from other countries sometimes view Islam as hard and complicated.

• What are you currently doing in Japan?

In Japan, we have established a center called “Ahl al-Bayt.” There, I conduct classes on the Qur’an and Islamic rulings. I am also continuing the translation of Qur’anic verses. In addition, if someone wants to learn the Persian language, I also teach Persian.