Japan’s Mujahid: Nimetullah Halil Ibrahim Yurt
In this news, we will talk about a caller to Islam who dedicated his life to the call of the Messenger of Allah, traveling from country to country, city to city, and becoming the means for thousands of people to embrace Islam. Let’s take a closer look at the late Nimetullah Halil Ibrahim Yurt and his method of invitation.
Born in 1931 in Taşova, Amasya, Nimetullah Halil Ibrahim Yurt Hoca, later known as “Nimetullah Hoca,” began to be recognized. In his youth, he attended the circles of scholars and mystics such as Mehmed Zahid Kotku, Mahmud Sami Ramazanoğlu, and Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan, serving them along with his father.
In 1955, after working as a muezzin at Sultanahmet Mosque and serving as an acting imam under Gönenli Mehmet Efendi and Seyyid Şefik Arvasî, Nimetullah Hoca retired from the Religious Affairs Directorate. After retiring, he moved to Mecca to be with his father. Nimetullah Hoca served as a teacher in the mosque of Seyitler Mahallesi near Mount Nur for 33 years. Later, he went to Japan by invitation, serving as the head imam of the Japan Islamic Center. Being in Japan for over 20 years, Nimetullah Hoca opened hundreds of mosques and prayer places, leading to the nickname “Japanese Mujahid.“
How Will I Face the Prophet?
Throughout his dedicated life of preaching, Nimetullah Hoca visited more than 50 countries, resulting in hundreds of people in Europe abandoning drinking establishments and casinos, repenting from their sins, and embracing a lifestyle in accordance with Islam. In 1981, Nimetullah Hoca distributed 20,000 copies of the Quran in China, and during his time in Japan, he pioneered the opening of numerous mosques from the north to the south, transforming them into Islamic schools.
Nimetullah Hoca, fluent in Turkish, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Japanese, and English, easily communicated with people from various backgrounds. Although he played a pivotal role in guiding thousands to Islam in 50 different countries, his close friends reveal that he was haunted by the thought, “How will I face the Prophet in the afterlife, knowing I couldn’t bring Islam to every person on Earth?”
The Essence of Nimetullah Hoca’s Invitation
“Bless people with even a single verse,” was the guiding principle of Nimetullah Hoca, inspired by the Hadith. He reached countless individuals with this approach. How did he manage to bring so many people to Islam?
Salih Mehdi Samarrai, a close friend of Nimetullah Hoca who spent nearly 20 years preaching Islam alongside him in Japan and other countries, sheds light on this question. Salih Samarrai recalls Nimetullah Hoca’s constant emphasis:
“If every Muslim sincerely intends to invite others, Islam will prevail worldwide.” Nimetullah Hoca’s invitation method was straightforward, and everyone could apply it. It was based on the same principle as the Prophet’s: “Say, ‘There is no deity except Allah’ to attain salvation.” Nimetullah Hoca expressed it as, “Two sentences that, when uttered, end troubles and lead to success in life.” Those who heard these words would understand that Nimetullah Hoca wanted them to repeat the phrase, “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.” Nimetullah Hoca believed that those who said these words embraced Islam, and he would give them an Islamic name. He also asserted that uttering these words would renew the faith of Muslims and turn non-Muslims into Muslims. He emphasized that mentioning the declaration of faith would bring relief to the mouth, ears, and heart.
Allah’s decree in Surah Fussilat, verse 33, states, “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, ‘Indeed, I am of the Muslims.‘” Nimetullah Hoca’s life exemplified this divine command. He worked tirelessly to guide thousands to Islam, urging them to do good and abstain from evil. May Allah accept the efforts of the late Nimetullah Hoca. May He grant us the ability to draw lessons from his exemplary life.
