Blogger: Wa Salaam
Article: Chinese Muslims Strengthen Affinity to Middle East
Originaly Posted On: 2006-11-29 21:05:44

That’s right, Chinese Muslims, many Americans probably didn’t realize that there is a population of Chinese Muslims living in communist China. But in fact there are a significant number of Muslims living in China today, roughly 20 Million in total. These Muslims will be able to strengthen their affinity to Islam and the Middle East because the communist and ultimately atheist Chinese Government is beginning to relax its controls over Islam in good-faith to fortify trade and oil business with the Middle-Eastern region.

The “relaxed controls” are warmly welcomed by China’s Muslim population, some of which have been looking to study in the Middle-East. The Muslims of China face an entirely different social condition than that commonly discussed here in the U.S.. However, Chinese Muslims are able to sustain their practice in the face of an atheist government as well as global upheavals that aim to demonize the religion.

Hai, a Chinese Muslim and Islamic gift shop owner, prays at the mosque everyday and would like to learn Arabic fluently. He says,

“Not everyone was like that but my family was, and now more and more people are. Our religion is developing very quickly,” (L. Beck, Reuters; The Washington Post)

In conclusion, it should be noted that Islam has had a presence in China since the Tang Dynasty. As the story goes, a famous sahib named Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqas of the Qurayshi Banu Zuhrah was sent to present Islam to the Emperor Gaozang. The Emperor realized the parallels between Islam and Confuscious and ordered that the first Mosque be built, and it was completed in 742 C.E. It also should be noted that Chinese Muslims have excelled in Islamic calligraphy which can be seen in the masterful work of Haji Noor Deen, an instructor at Zaytuna Institute.