Origins of Islam in China
Huaisheng Great Mosque, Canton, China
It is widely believed that the birth of Islam in China was during the Caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, the third Caliph of Islam. In 29 AH, the Caliph sent a deputation to China led by Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqaas, Prophet Muhammad’s maternal Uncle. As head of an embassy, he invited the Chinese emperor to embrace Islam and in response, Emperor Tang instructed the construction of the first Mosque in Canton, known as the Huaisheng Great Mosque, which has now stood for fourteen centuries. Following this event, the first Muslim settlement in China was established in this port city. Subsequently, the Umayyads and Abbasids sent another six delegations to China who continued to facilitate the spread of Islam. [1]
Soon many Muslims immigrated to China and began to dominate the import/export trade business while intermarrying with Han Chinese women. Muslim cultural customs of food, dress, and language also merged with the Chinese culture, and by the Ming era, Muslims could not be distinguished from any other Chinese. During this time, Muslims maintained an image of being fair and self-disciplined, and no conflict existed between the native Chinese and them at the time. Islam continued to grow as Muslims established schools and mosques to educate the Muslim population. Throughout the Song period and Yuan Dynasty, Muslims flourished with cultural customs developing and merging with the Chinese population. However, during the next period of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there was a period of persecution of Muslims in China. More than twelve million Muslims were killed by the Qing in after several attempts to overthrow this dynasty. Finally when the Manchu Dynasty fell in 1911, the Republic of China was established by Sun Yat Sen, and he immediately proclaimed equality amongst all people in China to significantly improve the relations of all groups. [2] However, during the Cultural Revolution, Muslims again suffered along with other religious groups who were accused by the government for having superstitious beliefs deviating from the socialist trend. During this period, Mosques and copies of the Quran were destroyed, and Chinese Muslims suffered until religious freedom was declared in 1978. [3]
Since then, Islam has been undergoing a revival as there has been a revolutionized Islamic expression among the youth. According to a count in 1998, there are 32,749 mosques in all of China, and many Islamic associations have been established to increase Muslim activities, Islamic literature, and Islamic followers. [3]
Soon many Muslims immigrated to China and began to dominate the import/export trade business while intermarrying with Han Chinese women. Muslim cultural customs of food, dress, and language also merged with the Chinese culture, and by the Ming era, Muslims could not be distinguished from any other Chinese. During this time, Muslims maintained an image of being fair and self-disciplined, and no conflict existed between the native Chinese and them at the time. Islam continued to grow as Muslims established schools and mosques to educate the Muslim population. Throughout the Song period and Yuan Dynasty, Muslims flourished with cultural customs developing and merging with the Chinese population. However, during the next period of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there was a period of persecution of Muslims in China. More than twelve million Muslims were killed by the Qing in after several attempts to overthrow this dynasty. Finally when the Manchu Dynasty fell in 1911, the Republic of China was established by Sun Yat Sen, and he immediately proclaimed equality amongst all people in China to significantly improve the relations of all groups. [2] However, during the Cultural Revolution, Muslims again suffered along with other religious groups who were accused by the government for having superstitious beliefs deviating from the socialist trend. During this period, Mosques and copies of the Quran were destroyed, and Chinese Muslims suffered until religious freedom was declared in 1978. [3]
Since then, Islam has been undergoing a revival as there has been a revolutionized Islamic expression among the youth. According to a count in 1998, there are 32,749 mosques in all of China, and many Islamic associations have been established to increase Muslim activities, Islamic literature, and Islamic followers. [3]
CHINESE PERSPECTIVE ON ISLAM:
From the 17th century to the 21st century, Muslims in China have had varying statuses with changing relationships with the native Chinese. Now, certain Muslims in China are facing conflict again as Han nationalism has begun to re-appear. [4] While most Muslim-Han relationships in China appear peaceful, one certain Islamic ethnic group is routinely oppressed politically and economically. In Xinjiang, China, a majority of Muslim exists with the Chinese minority. [5] This location has a significant impact on China, as a large portion of China’s mineral resources are found here, yet 90% of the Muslims live in poverty. The Muslims here are called Uyghurs, and have faced decades of discrimination by the Han Chinese. [6]
As a religious and ethnic minority, the Ugyghurs are denied basic political and civil rights and are extremely segregated from the Chinese population. To them, they believe China has been in occupation of their land East Turkestan, and they have failed with several separatist uprisings which have resulted in only increased repression. The Chinese government continues to restrain their religious practices, and especially since September 2001, they have used the excuse of “war on terrorism” to continuously oppress the Ugyghur population.[7] The term was coined by George W. Bush in in 2001, and the "...declaration of the global ‘War on Terror’ had immediate and serious repercussions on domestic political developments in various parts of the world. In Southeast Asia in particular... ‘war on terror’ has had a number of negative consequences, such as allowing the region’s governments to justify the use of arms, detention without trial, and the suspension of many civil liberties in the name of anti-terrorism" (Grosfoguel, Mielants). [8] In a sense, Islamophobia has developed in its own way in China, with native behaviors "...leading to the rejection of Muslim communities and anything associated to Islam" (Lorente) [9] for their own socio-economic advantage. In 2009, ethnic tensions gave rise to violent riots in the capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi, with thousands of Chinese Muslims taking up the streets and abusing many Han Chinese people who passed by. Their volent actions included throwing rocks at Han Chinese shops, setting vehicles on fire, and targeting victims on the streets, resulting in "156 people dead, at least 828 were injured, 261 buses and cars were torched, and 203 shops and 14 homes were burned down" (Newsweek) [10]. This event initiated an increase wave of violent tension between the Ugyghur population, and is an issue that remains to be unsolved. The Chinese government has responded with new measures such as surveillance cameras [11] and suppressive policies that target Chinese Muslims as terrorists and unreasonable imprisonment. Their treatment and abuse has now become known to the world, as their political, cultural, and economic rights are heavily denied and are soon calling for involvement from other nations. [12]
As a religious and ethnic minority, the Ugyghurs are denied basic political and civil rights and are extremely segregated from the Chinese population. To them, they believe China has been in occupation of their land East Turkestan, and they have failed with several separatist uprisings which have resulted in only increased repression. The Chinese government continues to restrain their religious practices, and especially since September 2001, they have used the excuse of “war on terrorism” to continuously oppress the Ugyghur population.[7] The term was coined by George W. Bush in in 2001, and the "...declaration of the global ‘War on Terror’ had immediate and serious repercussions on domestic political developments in various parts of the world. In Southeast Asia in particular... ‘war on terror’ has had a number of negative consequences, such as allowing the region’s governments to justify the use of arms, detention without trial, and the suspension of many civil liberties in the name of anti-terrorism" (Grosfoguel, Mielants). [8] In a sense, Islamophobia has developed in its own way in China, with native behaviors "...leading to the rejection of Muslim communities and anything associated to Islam" (Lorente) [9] for their own socio-economic advantage. In 2009, ethnic tensions gave rise to violent riots in the capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi, with thousands of Chinese Muslims taking up the streets and abusing many Han Chinese people who passed by. Their volent actions included throwing rocks at Han Chinese shops, setting vehicles on fire, and targeting victims on the streets, resulting in "156 people dead, at least 828 were injured, 261 buses and cars were torched, and 203 shops and 14 homes were burned down" (Newsweek) [10]. This event initiated an increase wave of violent tension between the Ugyghur population, and is an issue that remains to be unsolved. The Chinese government has responded with new measures such as surveillance cameras [11] and suppressive policies that target Chinese Muslims as terrorists and unreasonable imprisonment. Their treatment and abuse has now become known to the world, as their political, cultural, and economic rights are heavily denied and are soon calling for involvement from other nations. [12]
in the media:
Chinese Authorities Continue to Oppress the Uyghurs |
In this video of the Beijing News, the growing tension between the Muslim Uyghurs and Han Chinese is highlighted by the distinct segregation between the two communities. The Party Secretary of Xinjiang, Wang Lequan, discusses that the most important thing right now is the effectively house the Ughurs and give them homes, but the increasing threat of terrorism in Islamic communities has denied them their human rights by government authorities. The Uyghurs perceive this as a mere excuse, and this serves as a prelude to the violent riots to take place only a couple years later.
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Uyghurs Protest For Freedom |
In this video, Ugyghurs are protesting on the way to the police station demanding for information on their missing relatives. This widespread arrest began in July 2009, when Muslim Uyghurs initiated an ethnic riot against the Han Chinese, resulting in nearly 200 Chinese dead. However, while this issue seems to make the Uyghur minority largely at fault here, both ethnic groups have their strong opinions. The Uyghurs believe that the Xinjiang province has been their land for decades, and feel that they have been deprived of freedom and equality with the Han Chinese thriving economically while they can hardly make a living. On the other hand, the Han Chinese argue that without them, Xinjiang would not have prospered to how it has become today. The riot resulted in an flood of victims receiving treatment at Urumqi’s hospital, and a total of 1,400 Uyghurs arrested by authorities.
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