The FAQ section is under construction. It may be some time before all the questions get answered. Feel free to add more questions.
- What is Islam and what is a Muslim?
Islam is a universal monotheistic religion. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims believe that there is only one God who sent a number of prophet to guide humanity and the last and the greatest of these prophet is Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him.) - Isn’t Islam a ‘foreign’ religion? Most Muslims live in the Middle East right?
This is misconception that a lot of people have. Although Islam originated in the Middle East and the Arabs, Turks and Iranians are majority Muslims, followers of Islam are found throughout the world. Thus for example the largest Muslim country is in South East Asia – Indonesia. As for regions, South Asia (Pakistan, India and Bangladesh) have the largest number of Muslims in the world – more than 400 millions! Islam in China is almost as old as Islam itself. In fact there are more Muslims in China than there are in Most Arab countries. So Islam is not a foreign religion. It is a universal religion with many ethnicities and groups. - How many Muslims are there in China?
There does not seem to be any consensus on this number. Most estimates range from as low as 10 million to as high as 100 million Muslims in China. However the figure of 25 million Muslims seems more plausible. - Are there Chinese Muslims in other countries?
Yes there are Chinese Muslims in Central Asian countries and also in Malaysia. In Central Asia they are known as Dungans and still maintain their identity as Chinese Muslims. Almost all of these sought refuge in the Russian Empire during the Hui Minorities War in the 19th century. The Chinese Muslims as a community has arisen and disappeared in Malaysia a few times in the past. Either they were absorbed by the majority Malay Muslims and became Malays over time or they were absorbed by the non-Muslim Chinese and lost their beliefs. The recent growth of Chinese Muslims in Malaysia is an exception. There are more than 50,000 Chinese Muslims in Malaysia. - Do all Chinese Muslims belong to the same group?
No. Out of the 56 officially recogonized ethnic groups in China 10 are predominantly Muslim. These are Hui, Uyghur, Kazak, Dongxiang, Kyrgyz, Salar, Tajik, Uzbek , Bonan, and Tatar. - Who are the Hui Muslims?
Although there are 10 ethnic groups in China who are predominantly Muslims, two groups form the numerical majority. These are the Hui and the Uygar. Hui Muslims are the descendants of Arab, Persian and Turkish Muslims who intermarried with the local Han Chinese people. There are around 10 million Hui Muslims in China. Their culture is the same as that of the majority Han Chinese with the difference that the Hui practice Islam and thus don’t eat pork or drink alcohol. - What is the relation of Hui surnames to Arabic and Farsi names?
Some of the Hui surnames are derived from Arabic and Farsi names. Thus the following names used by Chinese Hui Muslims have their origin in Arabic and Farsi.- Ma for Muhammad
- Han for Muhammad
- Ha for Hasan
- Hu for Hussein
- Sai for Said
- Sha for Shah
- Zheng for Shams
- Who are the Uygar Muslims?
- What is the difference between a Han Chinese and a Hui Chinese?
Historically speaking other than the practice of Islam there is not much difference and even this distinction is no longer applicable. For some Huis being a Muslim is like belonging to an ethnic group and thus their knowledge of Islam is practically non-existent to the point that they do not even know the basic pillars of Islam and yet they consider themselves Hui. On the other hand there are recent Han Chinese Muslims who follow Islam much more than the Hui but they do not like to be called Hui because they are of pure Han Chinese blood. In terms of lifestyles the two groups are almost identical. Places where they live side by side they speak the same language. Even amongst the Hui one will find people who eat pork and drink so its difficult to tell where the Hui begins or the Han ends. - How much of old China, in the pre-modern sense, exists today?
- What are the names of the Chinese Sufi Orders, and who are their Masters and Shaykhs?
- How is strong is the legacy of Chinese Muslim martial arts in China today?
- Is it difficult to find masters of this art/science, particularly for foreigners?
- Where in China are there universities, institutes, teachers etc that teach the history of Islam and China – in its language, culture etc?
- Where in China are Muslims mostly located?
- When did Muslims first came to China?
- What is the history of Islam in China?
- Who are the famous Chinese Muslims?
- Who was Zheng He?
- How many Chinese Muslims live outside of China and in which countries?
- What languages do Chinese Muslims speak?
- What are Muslim noodles?
- What is the general perception of Chinese people regarding Islam?
- What is the status of the dawah in China today?
- What is the future of Islam in China?
my name is mohammad albaba
i am from syria damascus
i want to know more a bout islam in china
after tow month i will travel to china
i want to know how can i help you
what are some good books on china and islam?
1)The Chinese Sultanate – Islam, Ethnicity and the Panthay Rebellion in Southwest China
2) * Hodong Kim Holy War in China – The Muslim Rebellion and State in Chinese Central Asia 1864-1877 ISBN 0-8047-4884-5
3)Muslim Chinese -Ethnic Nationalism in the Peoples Republic Dru C. Gladney ISBN 0-674-59495-9
4)The Perilous Frontier – Thomas J Barield
Mohammed Yousuf
I’m American Muslim businessman. I will be travelling to China in April to attend Canton Fair. I will also be travelling to different parts of China to visit textile factories to import Home Textile ( All types of Towels, Bed Sheets,Bedspread/ Comforters set etc ). On my trip I like to see Islamic history and visit mosques and meet muslim chinese as well.
I will appreciate Chinese Muslim brothers and sisters to email me yousuf48@gmail.com
My cell number is 1 – 469 – 348 – 3040
Please suggest me the places to visit in China.
I would also appreciate to hear from Chinese muslim business persons with any ideas to do business between USA and China.
Hi, I’m a Muslim and I’m currently living and working in China as an expat. I’m amazed by the number of Muslim restaurants I’ve encountered in the city where I work. It’s a small city by Chinese standards with a population of only 3 million people, but I have encountered 8 Muslims restaurants all within 5 minutes walk of my hotel!! I guess this shows just how many Muslims there are in this town.
I have seen 2 mosques here as well and I’m sure there are many more. Islam in China is alive and well, allhumdulilah!
i need chinese friend. to mail me arifur616@yahoo.com. i will
travel china august last weak insallaa–
Arif
My dear Brothers & Sisters.
If you people have any question about islam you can put you question at
http://darulifta-deoband.org/
This is Darul Uloom Deoband (INDIA), established in 1892. Darul uloom Deoband
(http://www.darululoom-deoband.com/) is worlds 2nd larget islamic study center. Most of the gulf
country ( including Saudi also) follows Darul Uloom Deoband fatwa(Question – Answer).
this was builed by Maulana Qasim Nanotawi, he was very much familliar in India for his sunnah.Till
1800 to 1947, British government was in Indai, at that time Maulana Qasim Nanotawi was opposing
this, once British government was searcing to Maulana Qasim Nanotawi, someone told to Maulana to
hide somewhere, then Maulana Hide in a room, after 3 days Maulana came out of the room, people ask
Maulana “why he came out of the Room”, Maulana told “Prophet was also stayed in Gaar-E-Hira
(Mountain) for only 3 days, so its not allowed for me to stay more than 3 days, let then (British)
do what they want. And also when Maoulana goes to Makka for Hajj he dont wear slippers someone ask
him why he dont wear slippers (becoz now also in Makka there is too much heat), he told “I dont
know where my Prophet walk on this land, so if I wear slippers, and if I walk and there could be
the situation that on the land where Prophet walk can come under my slippers”. There are so many
stories of him. And Also Prophet suggested to Maulana Qasim Nanotawi to develope this (Darul Uloom
Deoband) in his Dream (Its written in Maulanas’ book).
So its request for you people, if you people want to ask any question about Islam (Fatwa), plz
follow the given link, dont ask anybody, because only known scholars have rights to answer the
question, If you people want more information about Indian muslim, Islam in India or anything from India then plz mail me on (Ashrafkhan1986@yahoo.com).
Assalam – Alekum
where was adam and hawa meet after being sending by allah to to this earth
[...] the population of Muslims in China is realistically estimated at around 25 million, (around half or a third that of Chinese Christians). However, if Phares is correct, the support [...]
alhamdolillaha
china is great contry.my regard to every chinese.i m very happy to know about my muslim brothers in china.i hope that u will follow holy quran and because of you ur contry and ur islam will bring peace n prosperity for humanity.
salam
yours dr asif
drasifbly@yahoo.co.in
Assalam alykom Brothers and sisters,
To the brothers and sisters who live and work in China, How can I get to live and work in China as well? is there any way to get help to do so, I live in USA and would love to live and work in muslim China. If you can help in any way, please email me at mkaboulezz@gmail.com.
Gazakom allah khair
Salam to all my brothers and sisters in Islam form around world and specially in China,
I have heard that Muslims in China are under government pressure like in many other countries. I think Muslims must be more active and show their peace and kindness to all world, so they can contribute more in governing their countries. And Allah is with them, for sure.
PLEASE I AM MUSLIM BUT Y HAVE A DIVINE POWER AS GOD, THE NAME IS AMIDA BUDA, I HAVE MY SON AND MY DAUGTHER PLAYER BUDISTH , I WAS BORN TO 26 APRIL, 1949, AT 8.10 AM, TO BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, SUR AMERICA, THE WORK WAS THE SUN , AND THE TIBETIAN BUDISTH UNION OTHER DHARMAS AND WAR TO MY FAMILY AND DONT COMEBACK THE POWER , THE LAND PLANET HAS MENY PROBLEMS WITH THE MAGNETIC ENERGY, TELEPATIC ENERGY AND THE DALAI LAMA DONT INTERESTING THE PROBLEM AROUND THE WORLD
I AM AMIDA BUDA OR MESIAS, OR KALKI AVATARA OR ISLAM GOD, I HAVE THE SON AND THE DAUGTHER , WE ARE RENTS OTHER ENERGIES , OR SALES OTHER MINDER PLAYER AS MASONIC, GNOSTICS, JESUSCRIST, VUDU, TRASCENDENTAL MEDITATION, METAFISIC, ESOTERICS, AND KRISHNA, ALL PEOLE HAS POWER US , IS IMPOSIBLE THE GOD WORK SELECT GROUPS , BECAUSE THE DIVINE GOD IS FREE , I NEED EXPLAIN TO ME THE PROBLEM , MY BORN WAS TO BOGOTA,COLOMBIA, SUR AMERICA, AT 8.10 AM, TO 26 APRIL 1949 , IS POSIBLE HELP MY FAMILY? THANK YOU AS SALAM ALAIKUM
I somehow coincidently entered here,
First of all, not Uygar, but Uyghur or Uighur. Your inability to spell indicates your (author’s) knowledge of us.
Second (particularly addressed to the ones who wrote the comments above), open your eyes wider… China is a peace loving country? My people are facing brutal policies and persecution of the Chinese Government, hundereds are being executed. These are simply human rights and liberties activists who are opposing harsh Chinese policies. After the 11th September, Uyghur situation worsened, China started its campaign on crushing so called “terrorists”. At the same time, they are moving millions of Han Chinese to Uyghurstan to assimilate and incorporate the local population into their Empire. Tensions are huge there, what kind of peace and love are you talking about? They are Muslims, isn’t a muslim a brother to another muslim? Well, I do not notice any brotherhood and compassion here. Instead you are praising and supporting China, while Uyghurs are at the same time facing strict religious restrictions. Thank very much, you made me more confident that United States and Europe are our allies and friends in every sense.
Salam Brother,
Please do not feel angry at the author of the blog I do not think he is praising China.
It is obvious to any one that Muslims are being persecuted in China. It’s on the news – when they feel like mentioning it. So yes, it is swept under the rug about the human rights abuse going on there.
I do hope things change and that China fails at it’s evil plan.
My Duas are with you and your people in China.
Salam,
Sohaib
I know this comment will be deleted by the editor…
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
Author you are a real coward, sensoring, monitoring and controlling the messages before people see them….
Assalaam-u-alaikum.
I am writing to seek your advice if possible.
I am presently residing in Pakistan with my family. The company I work for may be relocating me (along with my family) to Beijing, China. I may be there for about 3 years or so.
Alhumdulillah my family and I are observant Muslims. I try and pray in the masjid 5 times a day and my wife does full niqaab (covers her face as well as entire body). We are also doing our best to raise our children to be the best Muslims possible.
Of course my main concern in moving to Beijing would be the Islamic environment. Will my family and I be able to practice our Deen fully? Will there be a wholesome environment for my children? Will my wife be able to observe the Islamic dress in China? Is there a good Muslim community with whom we can establish close, friendly relations? We do not care if there are Pakistanis there or not… we feel the relationship of the Deen is most important.
We are also home-schooling our children… I am not sure if this would be permitted in China.
I am not sure if you even have such information… but any advice you could provide in this regard would be extremely appreciated.
Jazak Allahu Khairun.
Wassalaam.
ramaddan mobarak to all china-
Allahuma bariklana fii rajab wa syaban wa balighna ramadhan.
Semoga berkah d rahmat Allah bagi kita semua d saudara2 kita muslim di Tiongkok,amin ya robbal alamin
Salaam all,
I am truly fascinated by the Hui community and how they maintain Islaam and yet share the same culture as the majority Han chinese. Mashallah.
I am thinking about teaching English to Muslims in Ningxia province, does anyone know how I could arrange this…I have heard that there is a Ningxia Islamic Academy in China?????????
Jazak Allah Khair.