London, UK– The Muslim Community Association (MCA) successfully hosted a special gathering on Friday at its office in the London Muslim Centre, bringing together scholars, professionals, and community leaders dedicated to the mission of spreading the message of Islam and fostering interfaith understanding.
MCA is a broad-based da’wah organisation devoted to sharing the peaceful message of Islam with the wider society. Its vision is to build bridges of understanding and promote meaningful dialogue between Muslims and the mainstream community, creating a more inclusive and harmonious society.
The event was graciously hosted by Dr. Ashraf Mahmud, renowned scholar and Assistant Professor at the University of the West of Scotland, where he also leads the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme. Under his thoughtful guidance, the programme created a welcoming space for learning, reflection, and the exchange of diverse perspectives.
The highlight of the event was the keynote address by Dr. Yusuke Yusuf Katsura, a Japanese revert and Postdoctoral Researcher at Ritsumeikan University, Japan. Dr. Yusuke, who embraced Islam in 2016, has become a leading academic voice in studying Japan’s growing Muslim communities, including converts and second-generation Muslims. His profound insights and research — including his works “An Analysis of Conversion Stories from the 1980s to Early 2000s” and “The Possibilities and Challenges of Intercultural Dialogue Practices in Osaka” — were warmly received by attendees.
Dr. Yusuke shared that Japan is now home to approximately 300,000 Muslims, including 74,000 reverts and around 160 mosques. “Japanese people, by nature, are polite, sincere, and spiritually curious. They have hearts inclined towards taqwa. If Muslims exhibit good character and behaviour, it can leave a lasting impression and open doors to da’wah,” he said.
The event also featured Mr. Aqeel Qureshi, an MA student at Keio University, born and raised in Japan. He is a practitioner of Sado (the Japanese tea ceremony) and Aikido, and a co-founder of Seishin no Ki — the first official organisation led by second-generation Muslims in Japan, focused on advancing Islamic education. His reflections on aligning Islamic teachings with traditional Japanese values left a lasting impression on the audience.
A number of esteemed guests attended and shared inspiring messages, including: Mr. Dilower Hossain Khan, Ex-Central President, MCA, Mr. Musaddiq Ahmed, Deputy General Secretary, MCA, Mr. Azhar, In-Charge, WAMY (Philippines), Mr. Sajid, former advisor to the Mayor, Professor Atiq Ahad, University of East London, Dr. Akhtaruzzaman, Ex-Chairman, Global Aid Trust, Dr. Shamsul Alam Golab, Mr. Afsar Uddin, Team member, Mainland Europe, MCA, Mr. Khansur, UK Correspondent, Noya Digonto, Mr Hasan Zaman, Mr Tajul Islam, Many more.
Each speaker emphasized the urgency of spreading da’wah to the mainstream society and encouraged continued efforts to uplift, inspire, and educate both Muslims and non-Muslims through positive engagement.
The event concluded on a high note, leaving the audience deeply motivated and spiritually uplifted. It served as a powerful reminder of the role Muslim communities in the UK and abroad can play in promoting understanding, peace, and compassion in today’s world.