Audio Review: Islam in China

Napoleon is reported to have made this insightful observation about a country that is now home to a fifth of the world's population. Since then, China has truly become a giant that stands as an equal with other powers of the world.

Most famous for its Great Wall, China is also home to a hidden treasure - the unofficial report is that the country has 90 million Muslims. The history and modern-day plight of these Muslims has been documented in this audio documentary produced by Halaqah Media.

The first recorded contact of early Muslims with China is 651 C.E. when a delegation from Caliph Othman (RA) visited the Chinese court. A prominent companion of the Holy Prophet (SAW), Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (RA), led the delegation. To this day, his final resting place is located in China.

There were, however, earlier relations with China via the role played by Muslim businessmen. Arab and Persian businessmen had been visiting and trading with China for a long time. Their ethical business practices and high moral character won the hearts of many Chinese and Islam gradually spread throughout China.

In the 13th century, the retreating Mongols, who after creating havoc throughout Islamic lands, finally converted to Islam and brought some of the leading Muslim scholars, scientists, businessmen, administrators and artisans back to China with them. The Mongols highly patronized the Muslims and appointed several of them as governors. Their short 89-year rule proved a boon for Muslims as they excelled in all fields and occupied high positions. The subsequent rise and fall of several dynasties also saw the ups and downs of Chinese Muslims who, nevertheless, remained fully committed to their faith.

These Muslims contributed richly to the advancement of science and technology in China. A Muslim architect is said to have laid the strong foundations of Beijing. Several medical and other scientific works, including the Canon of Ibn Sina, were translated from Arabic to Chinese. Muslims also performed the first surgery in China in which scissors and knives were used. Admiral Muhammad Xang commanded China's naval fleet, visiting more than 35 countries.

A majority of Chinese Muslims follows either the Hanafi or Maliki schools of Fiqh. Until the end of the seventeenth century, Islam in China continued to be relatively simple without any major sectarian differences. That time period, however, brought along with it several new sects and sub-sects among the Muslims that, along with some of the traditional Chinese cultural practices, created a potent mixture of internal strife and dissent.

This internal wrangling caused a lot of bloodshed among the Muslims. Relief was in sight, however, with the birth of a reformist movement that vowed to restore the original purity of Islam and the unity of the Muslims. Consisting of a group of young and dynamic Muslims that had gone to Mecca to perform Hajj returned with fervor and zeal, it was tremendously successful in its efforts. In the short span of 25 to 30 years, these Muslims became a dominant and active force.
The 1948 Communist revolution proved to be a disaster for the Chinese Muslims, marking the beginning of repressive policies by successive regimes in China who continue to scuttle basic human rights in the county. These policies can be divided into three stages.

1. 1949-1958: Muslims were allowed to practice their religion, but under the direct control of the government. Only one Muslim organization, namely the Chinese Islamic Association, was allowed to operate. No Islamic teaching was allowed outside the mosques.
2. 1959-1979: Religious practice was banned in totality. Many Imams and scholars were sent to notorious desert 'reform' camps - sometimes never to return. Muslim students were forced to drink water in Ramadhan before attending school, and were forced to feed pigs. Several mosques were converted or destroyed.
3. 1980 to present: Relative loosening up of religious practices. The building of more than 3,000 mosques was allowed in the last fifteen years alone. However, no public or religious meetings are allowed.

The audio documentary also documents the brave revolts of Muslims against the Chinese government, and its deadly retaliation against them. The chivalry of the youth and the perseverance of Muslim women in holding tight to the tenets of Islam are also detailed.

Despite the easing of controls (ushered in mainly due to economic reforms), the repression of Chinese Muslims continues. Even the slightest form of protest is crushed with brutal force. Several hundred Muslims have been either killed or wounded in this decade alone, and many more remain unaccounted for.

The troubles in the northwestern province of Xinjiang continue. As well, the government conducts nuclear tests in Muslim-dominated regions, thus putting the lives of millions of Muslims at great risk.

The recent economic reforms (dominated by pure materialism and blind imitation of the west) have led to the erosion of positive traditional values, leaving many Chinese with a feeling of emptiness. Islam is offering a solution to their problems (as it does to everyone); hence, it is the duty of all Muslims to seek to convey Islam's message in the most befitting manner.

Although this audiotape offers an interesting look at the history of Chinese Muslims (and Halaqah Media should be congratulated for its quality productions), there is room for improvement in its use of sound effects. Also, an accompanying booklet offering a guide for the correct pronunciation of Chinese names would have been helpful.