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# A Korean Muslim Challenges Christians, Followers of Sufism and Ash‘arism, and Those Who Invoke the Authority of Al-Azhar

On the first day of Muharram in the year 1448 AH, I publicly announced that Korea needs a new masjid. My reasons were as follows:

First, the number of new Korean Muslims is increasing rapidly. Nevertheless, there is no place that continuously cares for them, educates them, and assists them.

Second, I embraced Islam in 2009, and by 2026, not a single new Korean imam had emerged. No new Islamic school had been established to teach Islam in Korean, nor had even one new masjid been opened where the Friday khutbah is delivered in Korean. I have personally witnessed this reality for seventeen full years.

In fact, the number of new Korean Muslims continued to increase throughout those years, and accordingly, the number of people teaching and caring for them should also have increased. If this situation has not changed at all, can it truly be regarded as normal?

Third, in reality, there is only one Korean imam in Korea, and there is only one masjid where the khutbah is delivered in Korean. Nevertheless, no one regards this as a serious problem, no one assumes responsibility for the large number of new Korean Muslims, and no one feels responsible for spreading Islam in Korea.

One Korean imam and one masjid that provides education in Korean—as though that were sufficient. No one recognizes that there is a problem, and no one cares.

Does this make any sense?

Is Islam not the religion of truth?

Many false religions build new schools, establish universities, and create religious broadcasting channels. Why, then, are Muslims occupied merely with coming to Korea to conduct business and earn money?

However, when I announced that I would establish a masjid where I would deliver the Friday khutbah in Korean, provide daily Islamic lessons in Korean, and assist Korean Muslims, I was subjected to severe attacks.

Naturally, I expected strong opposition from Christians, but only a small number of them posted offensive comments. When I said that I would name the masjid “Masjid al-Masih Isa ibn Maryam,” some of them asked me:

“Why are you building a mosque in the name of Jesus, who has nothing to do with you?”

I explained to them that this name is mentioned in the Qur’an and that Muslims neither hate nor deny Jesus. Rather, they believe in him as one of the great prophets of Allah. Their opposition then became an opportunity to explain Islam to them and invite them to it.

Many Christians were shocked by the name of the masjid and fell silent, while others approached out of curiosity, asked questions, and wanted to learn how Muslims believe in Jesus.

What was surprising, however, was that the number of Muslims who objected was greater than the number of Christians who objected, and their opposition was even stronger. They said:

“Why do you want to spread Salafism in Korea?”

Some of them also said:

“Because you are a Wahhabi, we will not help you build the masjid, and we will not support you.”

Yet I had never asked them for support in the first place, and I had already announced that I would not collect donations to build the masjid. Nevertheless, some Muslims spoke as though I could not establish a masjid in Korea without their permission and money.

I could not help but be astonished by this attitude. When I announced that I would establish a masjid bearing the name of Jesus, the Christians remained silent, and some of them approached out of curiosity.

How, then, can people who say that they are Muslims oppose the establishment of a masjid in Korea and attack it?

Only then did I understand why they had remained indifferent for all these years to spreading Islam in Korean in Korea.

When a new Korean approaches them and says that he wants to become Muslim, they become occupied with taking photographs with him and boasting as though they themselves had personally made him Muslim. I have seen with my own eyes how they issued certificates of conversion to Islam to Koreans without providing them with proper education.

The more serious problem is that after those Koreans embrace Islam, they do not continue to show concern for them, follow up with them, or care for them. They do not provide them with the assistance they need, nor do they provide them with structured Islamic education in Korean.

Some of them boast only about the moment a Korean embraces Islam. Afterwards, they assume no responsibility for him, regardless of what becomes of him, and they do not even try to find out what happened to him.

Therefore, I could not help but ask:

Are the actions of such people not among the reasons that have prevented Islam from spreading properly in Korea?

Many new Korean Muslims leave Islam shortly after embracing it, or remain Muslim only on paper, carrying certificates of conversion that they obtained for the purpose of marrying a foreign Muslim man or woman.

Many of them have told me that they visited nearby masjids seeking proper education, but they could hardly find anyone who could explain Islam to them in Korean. In most places, each community used only its own language, and the atmosphere made it difficult for Korean visitors to enter and integrate with them.

Some visitors also complained about poor hygiene, unpleasant odors, and unfamiliar and closed environments that caused them to feel afraid, and therefore they were unable to visit those masjids again.

Ignoring this reality, while merely publishing videos of a new Korean pronouncing the two testimonies of faith or photographs celebrating his conversion, and then saying, “Islam is growing in Korea,” is completely meaningless.

How can you claim that you will spread Islam in Korea when you do not provide Koreans with education in a language they understand and do not provide them with a safe and comfortable place to learn?

They then said to me:

“There are already many masjids, so why do you want to establish another one?”

However, when I visited their masjids and tried to persuade them of the need to focus on spreading Islam in Korean, some of them rejected me harshly. Some told me that I should go to a school affiliated with the Sufi order to which they belonged, graduate from it, and then return to them. Others posted offensive comments against me or sent me messages through social media, asking:

“Are you not a Salafi?”

After taking such positions, is it reasonable for them now to say that Korea already has many masjids and therefore does not need a new one?

For this reason, I made my decision.

I will certainly establish this masjid, even without their assistance, and I have resolved not to conduct a public fundraising campaign for its construction. Financial dependence on a particular group may eventually subject me to pressure to change the content of the da‘wah and the policies of the masjid according to what they desire.

I do not want to establish a masjid in which the creed and direction of the da‘wah change according to people’s money. Rather, I want to establish a masjid founded upon reliance on Allah alone and operated independently in accordance with the Qur’an, the authentic Sunnah, and the understanding of the Companions and the Salaf.

I do not want a masjid whose administrators submit to the wishes of financial supporters at the expense of creed and da‘wah. Rather, I want a masjid whose administrators fear Allah alone and teach the truth.

I will not merely issue certificates of conversion to those who want to marry foreigners, take photographs with them, and then boast that I made them pronounce the two testimonies of faith. Rather, I will provide new Muslims with continuous care, consultation, and sound, structured education, seeking the Face of Allah alone, even if people do not recognize my work and even if no one supports me, insha Allah.

By announcing the establishment of “Masjid al-Masih Isa ibn Maryam,” I demonstrated to Christians that Islam is not a religion that denies Jesus.

Now I publicly challenge those who defend Sufism and Ash‘arism, as well as those who treat the reputation and status of Al-Azhar as absolute proof.

This challenge is not intended to incite hatred or violence against any particular person, nor is it intended to attack anyone because of his country or ethnicity. It is a public academic challenge concerning creed and evidence.

Sufi ideas and deviant creeds have been spread in Korea as though they were the correct creed of Islam, without examination or verification.

Supplicating to the inhabitants of graves and the dead instead of Allah, seeking rescue from the dead and absent, seeking help from other than Allah in matters that only Allah is capable of, and newly invented rituals that have no basis in the religion have all been justified under labels such as “spirituality” and “Sufism.”

I have also witnessed public celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday being held every year, through which many Korean Muslims are misled and invited toward religious innovations.

I will not remain silent in the face of this situation.

Korea is the country in which I was born and raised, and it is the land in which my ancestors lived for thousands of years. As a Korean Muslim, I also bear responsibility for conveying correct Islam to Koreans and warning them against deviant creeds and the danger of falling into shirk.

No matter how many institutions and scholars you name, the large number of people and the reputation of institutions cannot be evidence of the truth.

Bring your evidence from the Qur’an.

Bring your evidence from the authentic Sunnah.

Bring clear evidence that the Companions and the early Salaf believed and interpreted the texts in the same manner as you do.

If you have evidence, I am always prepared to listen to it and study it.

However, merely saying:

“This is what they teach at Al-Azhar,”
or: “Many scholars have said this,”
or: “This is traditional Islamic theology,”

is not sufficient evidence.

The truth is not known by the name of an institution. Rather, the truth is known through what Allah revealed and what has been authentically transmitted from the Prophet in the Sunnah. Remember this and respond.

Allah has repeatedly informed us in the Qur’an that He rose over the Throne.

We do not distort what Allah has informed us about Himself, nor do we deny it, imagine its manner, or liken Him to His creation. We do not say that Allah’s rising is like the rising of a created being. At the same time, however, we do not distort the meaning of “rose over” into “seized control” without evidence.

I will not list here in detail all the linguistic and transmitted evidence demonstrating that “rose over” does not mean “seized control.” The Sunnah of the Prophet and the statements of the Companions, the Followers, and the early Salaf contain sufficient evidence regarding this matter.

However, I know that you will not accept those proofs even if I present them to you.

Therefore, through the name of the masjid that I intend to establish, I ask you this question, just as I challenged the Christians before:

Where is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, now?

There is no doubt that you will acknowledge that he was raised alive into heaven and that he remains alive in heaven until he descends at the end of time.

Now read the words of Allah:

“And for their saying, ‘Indeed, we killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.’ But they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; rather, it was made to appear so to them. Indeed, those who differ concerning him are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. They certainly did not kill him. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”

Surah An-Nisa, 4:157–158

The Qur’an clearly states:

“Rather, Allah raised him to Himself.”

That is, Allah raised Jesus to Himself.

The meaning is clear merely by examining the basic Arabic structure of the sentence and the meanings of its words.

If you acknowledge that Allah raised Jesus into heaven, why do you deny Allah’s highness above His creation and His rising over His Throne in a manner befitting His Majesty?

Answer now.

Do not flee through mockery or personal attacks.

Respond using the Qur’an, the authentic Sunnah, and the understanding of the Companions and the Salaf.

Where is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, now?

And where is Allah?

Allah is in the highestness, above His heavens, risen over His Throne, above all of His creation, in a manner befitting His Majesty.

This is the public challenge that I present to you as a Korean Muslim.

In one year, by the permission of Allah, I will establish a masjid in Korea that provides structured education to Koreans and teaches them the correct creed, even without your assistance.

The creed that I intend to teach is not a newly invented political ideology, a partisan creed belonging to a particular religious organization, or an idea specific to a particular country or ethnicity. Rather, I intend to teach the Islamic creed indicated by the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah, understood and practiced by the Companions, and followed by the righteous Salaf.

It is the creed that affirms for Allah what He affirmed for Himself and what His Messenger affirmed for Him, without distortion or denial, and without asking how or likening Him to His creation.

It is the creed of tawhid that directs every act of worship to Allah alone and does not direct supplication, vows, sacrifice, reliance, or any other form of worship to anyone besides Allah.

It is the creed that does not ask the inhabitants of graves, the dead, the righteous, or the prophets for anything that only Allah is capable of, and which protects people from every form of shirk.

It is the creed that does not make anything that the Prophet did not legislate and that the Companions did not practice as worship into a part of the religion.

It is neither “Korean Islam” nor “Arab Islam,” nor is it a religion belonging to a particular region or ethnicity. Rather, it is the Islam brought by the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, taught by him to the Companions, and transmitted by the Companions to those who came after them.

I embraced Islam in 2009. In 2019, I established the Peace Association, operated the Peace Masjid, and served as its imam.

Anyone who wishes to accuse me of trying to establish a masjid for financial gain should, if he believes in Allah and the Last Day, refrain from attacking the honor of a Muslim or backbiting him without right.

In 2019, I paid the rent for the masjid from my own money. I never asked the members for money, not even once, and I did not receive money from them.

Even if you do not assist me, I will never surrender. As I have already announced, I will not collect donations to build the masjid.

I know why some Muslims oppose the construction of a masjid in Korea even more strongly than Koreans themselves.

I cannot reveal his exact name, but in the past, a Korean Muslim who had only recently embraced Islam and possessed no Islamic knowledge announced that he would build a masjid and collected a large amount of money.

However, he did not use that money to construct a masjid. Instead, he rented a place for prayer and did not conduct genuine da‘wah activities there, nor did he provide khutbahs or lessons in Korean.

However, I am not refusing to collect donations because I am afraid of offensive comments.

I want to demonstrate my sincerity to Koreans and make it clear that I am not doing this because I desire a beautiful building. Rather, I am doing it seeking the Face of Allah, and I hope through this to help them recognize that Islam is the truth.

My objective is not to obtain a large masjid building, but to establish a sound Islamic educational system.

The importance of a masjid does not lie in the beauty of its building or the luxury of its interior decoration. What matters more is what is taught there and what activities are conducted there.

What creed is taught there?

Can Koreans learn the Qur’an and Sunnah in their own language?

Can new Muslims receive continuous education and consultation after embracing Islam?

These matters are more important than the size and grandeur of the building.

If this is the primary objective, there is no need to spend vast amounts of money constructing a large masjid. Therefore, even if I must use part of my own home, I will not collect donations to build the masjid.

I will operate the Korean Islamic Academy in my masjid and place greater emphasis on teaching Islam to Koreans.

From now on, I will spend one full year translating Arabic Islamic books into Korean and preparing for this project.

I will translate twelve books into Korean within one year. When I have completed them, I will open the masjid and academy and teach Koreans through those books, insha Allah.

The translated books will be published free of charge, and I will produce video lessons based on them and upload them to my YouTube channel.

Anyone who wishes to support this activity and assist it may support the project through my Patreon account listed below. I will present the twelve books to you one by one through Patreon.
www.patreon.com/islamkorea

After establishing the masjid, I will continue publishing videos through Patreon so that you may see how Islam is being taught to Koreans, insha Allah.

I ask Allah to accept your righteous deeds.

I ask Allah to reward you greatly for your support and to make the scales of your good deeds heavy on the Day of Resurrection.

I ask Allah to make every form of assistance that you provide a cause for the forgiveness of your sins, the raising of your ranks, and the attainment of His pleasure.

I ask Allah to make it an ongoing charity whose reward continues to be recorded in your books of deeds even after your death.

If one Korean learns tawhid because of your assistance, if one new Muslim preserves his prayer, or if one person is protected from shirk and religious innovation, I ask Allah to record for you rewards like theirs and to make it an ongoing charity for you, by the permission of Allah.

Anyone who does not wish to participate in this work is not required to do so.

However, do not spread lies, engage in backbiting and tale-bearing, or obstruct this work, for such actions are among the major sins in Islam.

If, after all this clarification, some Muslims continue preventing Muslims from carrying out da‘wah, it can only be described as an evil act.

Visit my Patreon account and see for yourselves. You may verify the amount of support that I receive each month.

Even if I do not receive enough support to devote myself entirely to translation, that is not a problem.

I will not change my creed, nor will I abandon my mission. I believe and am certain that Allah will assist me.

I will continue this work until I complete it, regardless of the difficulties and trials that I encounter, insha Allah.

O Allah, accept from us our righteous deeds, even if they are few. Forgive our shortcomings and mistakes, and keep us firm upon Islam and the Sunnah until we die.

O Allah, make our final words the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and gather us on the Day of Resurrection with our Prophet Muhammad, his Companions, and the righteous.

O Allah, open the way for me and assist me in completing the translation of the twelve books that I have promised, establishing the Korean Islamic Academy, and founding Masjid al-Masih Isa ibn Maryam.

I cannot complete this work without Your assistance. You are capable of all things.

O Allah, accept this work as sincere and devoted exclusively to Your noble Face.

O Allah, rectify my intention and protect my heart from seeking fame, praise, or the attention of people.

O Allah, if I am upon the truth, keep me firm upon it. If I make a mistake, allow me to recognize my error and guide me to correct it immediately.

O Allah, make this translation and education a means through which Koreans correctly understand tawhid, the Qur’an, and the authentic Sunnah of Your Prophet.

O Allah, protect new Korean Muslims from shirk, religious innovations, deviant ideas, and doubts, and make their faith firm.

O Allah, make Masjid al-Masih Isa ibn Maryam a place where tawhid, the Sunnah, knowledge, worship, mercy, and noble character are taught.

O Allah, protect us from every corrupt intention and every scheme intended to obstruct this work. Guide those who oppose it out of ignorance of the truth, and grant them correct understanding and guidance.

O Allah, forgive our sins, conceal our faults, and keep our feet firm upon the truth.

Allow us to work for Islam and the Sunnah for as long as we remain alive, and cause us to die as Muslims.

O Allah, from the beginning of this work until its completion, make us rely upon You alone. Do not allow us to depend on the number of people or on their praise.

Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication, the Near, the One who responds.

You are the All-Knowing of everything, and You are capable of all things.

Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

May Allah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all of his Companions.

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all creation.

– Abdullah Park al-Kuri

@KoreanMuslimTV

WhatsApp:+821080019902

www.islamkorea.com
www.patreon.com/islamkorea