Why China Cannot Accept Islam

by amirkhalid99

The People’s Republic of China has a total of fifty-five recognised ethnic groups, the largest being the Han. All of these fifty-five are accepted and embraced in China, all except the predominatly Muslim ethnicities, who don’t quite seem to fit in. The fact is that China cannot accept Islam. Given that in China attention is centred on the majority, the demanding duties of Islam, and the nature of religion in China, it appears that Islam will be sitting in the back-seat of the country’s national identity for a long time to come.

When people think of China, regardless of where they come from, the thought of dark-haired, light-skinned, almond-shaped-eyed people usually comes to mind. Who on earth would suspect a brown-skinned, bearded man with light-brown hair and hazel eyes wearing a turban or a kufi to be Chinese too? How can a Chinese person be a Muslim? The thought is simply unheard of. And for good reason: though Islam’s history in China stretches back for centuries, it is still the psychology today, even amongst Chinese people, that it is a new, foreign religion meant more for people of Central Asia than for people of the Orient. There are approximately twenty-million Muslims living in China. However, despite this large amount of people, the number of Muslims only account for one- to two-percent of the total population. With the rest of China being non-Muslim, attention is naturally centred on the majority. And though statistics claim that Islam is supposedly one of the more “rapidly” growing religions of the country, it is certain that Islam will never become the dominant religion of China. The average Chinese citizen (that is the Sino-Tibetan looking kind) is not accustomed to being in a mosque with the people within looking and speaking differently than himself. A house of worship is a very important thing to the Chinese. Not only do they travel to the house of worship to worship, they also wish to become a part of the community within it. Returning to the notion that the majority of the nation’s citizens are not brown-skinned with lightly-coloured hair, the Chinese are hesistant to embrace the ideals of Islam.

Another obstacle preventing the greater growth of Islam is the demands of the religion. Despite its alleged political standings, China is a capitalist country. As the old cliché goes: time is money, and money is the blood that keeps the nation alive. The average Chinese worker does not have the time or the luxury to stop in the midst of his work five times a day to kneel and pray in the direction of the Ka’aba. Also, Islam demands that certain foods and beverages are not to be consumed, such as pork and alcohol. Given that there are countless Chinese dishes that include pork, halal food (food that is acceptable to be consumed by Muslims) is difficult and rather cumbersome to find. Alcohol is also a staple ingredient in the average Chinese social life. There is not a single Chinese social gathering that I have encountered that does not involve a couple bottles of wine, some beers, and perhaps even harder alcholic beverages such as liquor, whiskey, or vodka.

The very nature of religion in China is unfitting for Islam. China has historically been a polytheistic nation with traditional gods such as Yu Di (玉帝), the Jade Emperor, and Guan Yu (关于), the god of war, that are still revered to this day. Buddhism, introduced to China from India, fit well with the nation’s religious society because Prince Siddhartha, the Buddha, and other figures such as bodhisattvas easily blended in, becoming deified with the traditional Chinese gods. Prince Siddhartha was promoted from a revered teacher status to the position of literally a god.

The bodhisattva, originally male in Indian Theravada Buddhism, turned female and became known as Guan Yin (观音), the goddess of mercy, perhaps influenced by the traditional Chang’E (嫦娥), goddess of the moon. Christianity, though a foreign, monotheistic faith, managed to squeeze a firm foothold in Chinese society by teaching the Trinity, emphasising three entities in one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

However, Islam preaches only one god, and only one, as evident in the Shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith: لا إله إلاَّ الله محمدا رسول الله, which means “I attest that there is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger”. Also, it is worthy to note that Chinese often feel the need to have icons, statues, or shrines in the event of worship. Unlike the Buddha or the Christ, Islam strictly forbids any image of God, as it is the Muslim belief that

(1) we don’t even know what God looks like and (2) the construction of any image of God is deemed as idol worship (there is a huge difference between worshipping God and worshipping an icon that represents God).

Is there a future for Islam in China?

Yes, definitely. Islam has enjoyed a place in China’s rich history for many many centuries and it will do so hopefully for many more years to come. However,seeing as Islam is the underdog amongst China’s population, it seems that it will have to enjoy its place in the shadows as the spotlight is pointed elsewhere.

Islam in China

Islam was introduced to Chinese people in 650 CE – through an Arab delegation headed by Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqaas during the period of third Islamic Caliph in Medinnah – Uthman ibn Affan. The members of the delegation built first mosque in Canton city (known as ‘Memorial Mosque’).

In the begining, Islam was resented by Pagan Chines, but after their defeat in 751 CE, and during the rule of Caliph Manur, Muslims found respect and tolerance within several Chinese communities. However, the situation changed under Manchu Dynasty (1644-1911), which persecuted Muslims and waged five wars against them – in Lanchu (1820-28), Che Kanio (1830), Sinkiang (1847), Yunan (1857), and Shansi (1861).

Some Muslim communities lead by Yakoob Beg (1820-77) and Tu Wenhsin (Sultan Sulayman), however, inflicted crushing defeats on Manchu forces and establishe an Islamic State (1867-77).

According to 1936 population statistics – Muslims numbered more than 48 million. However, after Communists’ take-over in 1949 – the persecution of Muslims surpassed their plight under Manchu Dynasty – and within a decade of Communist rule, Muslim population was reduced down to just 10 millions. The Holocaust of 38 million Muslims pales before the much publicized plight of Tibetan Monks or the Jewish holocaust under Nazi rule.

Ann Miller Darling’s pictorial article China\’s Nu Ahong, published in Saudi Aramco World (July-August issue) is a good read on this topic.