AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): In shedding Islamic light throughout the world, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has played an effective role, and thanks to the revolution, the voice of Islam and the call of the Holy Quran have reached all parts of the world.
The official religion of Brazil, the largest and most populous country in South America, is Catholic Christianity. However, the expression of opinion and culture of citizens of all religions is free in Brazil, and the formation of sub-communities is also free in the country. About one and a half million people out of the 207 million people in Brazil are Muslims, of which the Shiite population is estimated at 600,000. Brazilian Shiites have various activities in their Islamic centers. The interest of the Brazilian people to get to know the culture of pure Islam and Shiism increases the responsibility of the missionaries in the country.
In this regard, AhlulBayt (a.s.) International News Agency – ABNA, conducted a short interview with Dr. Jamil Ibrahim Iskandar, professor of philosophy at Brazilian universities, and former director of the Islamic Center of Curitiba, to examine the state of Islam, Muslim activities, the situation of Shiites and Shiite centers, and the impact of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and Imam Khomeini (r.a.) on the Brazilian Muslim community.
At the beginning of the interview, Dr. Iskandar said in his introduction, “I am Dr. Jamil Ibrahim Iskandar, a professor of medieval Arabic philosophy at the Federal University of São Paulo. Until my PhD, I did all my studies in Brazil. I received a BA in Philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), a master’s in philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), and a PhD from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), in Campinas, São Paulo.”
Regarding his managerial records in educational and cultural centers in Brazil, he said, “For 12 years, I was the director of the Sociedade Beneficente Moçulmana do Paraná mosque in Curitiba. Also, for about 10 years, (2002 – 2012), I managed the Curitiba Brazilian-Arab school. This school, which belongs to the community of benevolent Muslims of Parana and is managed by them, is always very active and dynamic in terms of culture and religion, like other religious institutions such as Catholic and Orthodox churches.”
About the number of Muslim mosques and charity groups in Brazil, Dr. Iskandar said, “According to my research, there are about 40 mosques throughout Brazil. Unfortunately, I don’t have accurate statistics on the number of official charity groups belonging to Muslims in this country, and there are no official statistics about the Muslim population in Brazil. However, official data from the 2023 census indicates that 12 million Arabs live in Brazil, most of whom are of Syrian and Lebanese descent. Based on these data, it can be assumed that a total of about 5 million Muslims live in Brazil.”
In response to a question about the most active cities in Brazil in terms of Muslim religious activities, he said, “Brazilian Muslims are scattered in all the states of the country. But the largest and most important Brazilian Muslim communities are in cities such as São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, etc.”
Further in the interview, the former director of the Islamic Center of Curitiba about the significance of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in the progress of Islam in Brazil, stated, “Undoubtedly, the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran on the Shiite communities in Brazil and also on the return of many Brazilians of Muslim descent to Islam has been very effective. In my opinion, today, the Shiite identity of Brazilian Shiites is due to the efforts of the missionaries who came to Brazil to disseminate the Islamic-Shiite doctrine in different states of the country.”
About the most effective factor in the growth of Islam in Brazil, the ABNA reporter asked: Which of the educational, research, and cultural activities, including the translation of various books, the presence of Shiite missionaries in the region, and the establishment of mosques, will help the growth of Islam and increase the number of Muslims in Brazil?
In response, Dr Iskandar said, “All these actions and similar works can be effective in the growth of Islam in Brazil. But in my opinion, sending trained Islamic missionaries to the region as well as translating and distributing books to properly introduce Islam is more effective. Because the absence of preachers and books introducing Islam and the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) is strongly felt.”
In response to a question about the opinion of the Brazilian people, both Muslim and non-Muslim, as well as the opinion of Brazilian politicians on the Palestinian issue, Dr. Iskandar stated, “Today, Islamic awakening is seen not only in the Middle East but also in other regions of the world. In recent years, the issue has also been seen in Latin American countries, especially Brazil, and the spectacular demonstrations of Brazilian people, including school and university students, politicians, religious people, teachers, and lawyers in support of the oppressed people of Palestine, confirms this.”
About hijab and veiling in Islam, he added, “I believe that the Islamic hijab is a guideline issued by Islam to protect women from evil eyes. At the same time, the hijab is also an Islamic identity. A Muslim woman declares her identity as a Muslim with her hijab, and in this way, respects both herself and others.”
Regarding the role of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in the globalization of Islam, he said, “The Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979 under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and by the people, was an unprecedented event and a public uprising against oppression. At that time, world people watched this revolution live on television. Islam undoubtedly became more known with the victory of the Islamic of Revolution Iran. This revolution drew the world’s attention to itself and Islam. We can seriously say that today the Islamic Revolution of Iran is considered one of the most important revolutions in history.”
“The Islamic Revolution of Iran, which was formed under the leadership of Imam Khomeini (r.a.), had important achievements not only for Iran but also for the world,” he added, “But in my opinion, the most important achievements of the Islamic Revolution are social equality in access to education and health, raising the level of education of the Iranian people, significant reduction of poverty, observing fair laws and a big leap in self-sufficiency in the field of technology.”
Expressing his interest as a Brazilian to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, he said, “I believe that Grand Ayatollah Khamenei is a wise man and a descendant of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). He is a perfect, wise, knowledgeable, virtuous, scholar, scientist, and wise man who guides the country’s religious issues with the fairest understanding of Islamic jurisprudence. In light of his leadership, Iran is a country worthy of respect for maintaining its moral integrity. It is interesting to me that when Grand Ayatollah Khamenei appears in public, people wish to visit him closely.”
At the end of the interview, about the Arbaeen walk, the largest gathering of Muslims around the world, Dr. Iskandar said, “The martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s.) in the Ashura uprising actually saved true Islam from annihilation. The life story of Imam Hussain (a.s.), despite being sad, is very attractive to the people of the world. Because he is the true role model in courage, honesty, religiosity, and moral heritage of AhlulBayt (a.s.). And maybe that’s why millions of people participate in Arbaeen Great Walk for the love of Imam Hussain (a.s.).”
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