It has been reported that Islam came to China during the early part of the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century through the great sahabah Sa’ad Ibn Abi Waqqas, who met with Emperor Gaozong. The Emperor was said to have been inspired by Islamic teachings, comparing them to the philosophies of Confucius, and built the first mosque in China.
Muslims enjoyed many freedoms in the Tang Dynasty and dominated foreign trade during the second Song Dynasty that followed. However, they suffered from the oppressive policies of the Qing Dynasty, which succeeded in turning ethnic minorities against each other and resulted in the Hui Muslims launching several rebellions.
China’s recent history has been a turbulent time for Muslims. During the Cultural Revolution, Muslims in China were denied permission to travel to Makkah for Haj. More recently, the Chinese government has been accused by human rights groups of curtailing the freedom of worship for the Turkish-speaking Uighurs.
The situation was exacerbated following the September 11 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. In its aftermath, China was accused of using the “War on Terror” as an excuse to clamp down on separatists in Xinjiang.
China’s strict one-child policy has also forced many Muslim couples with children to seek refuge in the mountains, away from the authorities, fines and possible jail terms.
The Chinese government, though, appears to be making efforts to ease tensions with Muslims, using a conciliatory approach in trying to divert attention from separatist ideologies.
The China Islamic Association was set up by the government in 2001 to spread the teachings of the Quran and with “correct and authoritative interpretation”.
Another body, the Islamic Association of China has been charged with setting up a special office to make pilgrimage for Chinese Muslims easier.
More Muslims from China are making Haj these days and it is estimated that more than 8,000 will perform the journey to Makkah in 2007.
Chinese Muslims will have the choice of four exit points in Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi and Kunming, with another port planned for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, home to the Hui ethnic minority. There is also a possibility of chartered flights to Jeddah through Air China.
China’s effort to reach out to Muslims is seen as an attempt to improve business ties with oil-rich Middle East countries.
Islamic schools are given more freedom to operate and girls and women are often seen wearing hijab without fear in Muslim dominated areas.
Many of the mosques that were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution have been rebuilt and more Chinese Muslims are making an effort to learn their religion.
In 2006, China’s trade with Saudi Arabia reached $20 billion, a 30 per cent rise from the previous year.
The Chinese government has also allowed concessions for Muslims in order to help them practice their faith. The breeding of pigs is banned in areas where Muslims are in the majority and Muslims couples are allowed to have their marriage sanctified by an imam.
In addition, Muslims are given separate cemeteries and workers are allowed holidays during the major Islamic festivals. Muslims are also represented in government.
There are around 33,000 mosques all over China, 23,000 of them within Xinjiang province. Young Chinese Muslims are waking up to the beauty of the religion while interaction among the different ethnic Muslims has increased over the past few years.
