Chinese Islam is a diverse culture, says Imam Daayiee Abdullah, presenting various aspects of this old faith.
Progressive Islam has a lot in common with the Islam in China through the last 1500 years, and I think Progressive Muslims can benefit from this culture.
As a student in China in the 1980s, I met Muslims who were very different than the ones I was used to back in Michigan.
Although they observed the 5 pillars, fasted, and followed the Islamic calendar in addition to their mainstream, Chinese Muslims seemed far more integrated into their historic culture.
In this article, I hope to present to you this diversity.
Islam in China
Islam in China dates back to the Tang Dynasty (7th-9th centuries), primarily through trade and diplomacy. The first Muslim presence was likely among Arab and Persian merchants, and the Tang Dynasty was tolerant.
Over the centuries, Islam in China developed a unique Sharia. During the Song Dynasty (960–1279), Islam continued to spread through trade. Under the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), Islam saw significant growth. The Mongol rulers, who had extensive ties with the Islamic world, brought large numbers of Central Asians.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), the Hui people emerged as a distinct Muslim ethnic group. Islam continued to spread, and many Chinese Muslims served in administrative and military roles.
In the 20th Century, Muslims in China have faced periods of tension and state control, particularly under the Communist regime. However, they shared this with all the other faiths; it was not due to being a Muslim.
Today, Chinese authorities have much better relationship with religious people and Chinese Muslims have some of the broadest protections outside of Muslim-majority countries.
For example, Muslims are allowed separate cemeteries, marriage consecration by an Imam, holidays for major religious festivals, and the opportunity to make the Hajj to Mecca.
Chinese Islam
Beyond Ramadan and Eid, Islam in China is very different from the modern Islam funded by the conservatives in the Middle East. Chinese Islam tends to be Sufi in nature. Research shows that the majority of Muslims in China are members of Sufi groups.
In most provinces, Islam is organized around the concept of menhuan (Sufi Orders, or “门宦”). The menhuan serve as local centers for religious practice and community life.
Significant numbers of Chinese Muslims follow Gedimu, Jahriyya, Khuffiya, Qadiriyya, and Kubrawiyya.
The Gedimu (meaning “old” or “格迪目”) is the earliest and is of Hanafi Sunni tradition. It dates back to the Tang dynasty and its adherents strongly uphold traditional practices.
Female mosques are another unique features of Chinese Islam. Qīngzhēn nǚsì (清真女寺) are spaces for worship, religious education, and social activities. These mosques come with female “Ahong” (女阿訇) who provide leadership and spiritual guidance.
Chinese Islam also presents unique ethnic groups, culture, and relationship with other faiths.
Chinese Muslims
Muslims in China are highly diverse, including multiple ethnic groups such as the Hui, Uyghurs, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik. Each of them have distinct languages, cultures, and traditions.
Muslims find common ground, including all valuing the Islamic Calendar, and all of its events. Yet, each ethnic group has its own relationship with everything Muslim.
The Hui are China’s largest Muslim group. They are primarily in the northwest, including provinces like Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai. Hui Muslims speak Mandarin and other Chinese dialects and are culturally similar to Han Chinese. “Hanhui” was the historical name to distinguish them from Turkic-speaking Muslims.
The Uyghurs are the second largest group. They are a Turkic-speaking people residing mainly in Xinjiang. Uyghurs have their own distinct culture and language, similar to Turkish.
Other smaller Muslim groups in China include the Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik peoples. They are all Central Asian cultures, each with unique cultures and Islamic traditions. They are native to the Central Asian region, which includes countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
In addition to indigenous Muslim groups, China also hosts an immigrant Muslim population, primarily from South Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa. They tend to be in urban centers like Guangzhou and Beijing, where they engage in trade, business, and religious activities.
Finally, Muslims in Hong Kong and Macau, though a small minority, include both local Chinese Muslims (mainly Hui) and immigrant communities. Immigrants tend to come from South Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia, contributing to the multicultural fabric of these regions through businesses, religious practices, and cultural exchanges.
Chinese Islam Culture
Chinese Islam culture is old and unique, and you will find traditional Eid foods here. It is a visible part of the country through its practices, traditions, and communities.
The culture includes distinctive religious observances such as daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and the celebration of Eid. In neighborhoods like Beijing’s Cow Street (牛街礼拜寺), the community is extremely visible.
Chinese Islam culture also includes unique cuisine, like halal foods, and traditional clothing. Popular Chinese Muslim foods include lamian (hand-pulled noodles), yangrou chuan (grilled lamb skewers), and pilaf (a rice dish with meat and vegetables).
In regions with larger Muslim populations, Islamic architecture, such as mosques, and cultural festivals are visible. This contrasts with mainstream Chinese traditions.
Top cities to experience Chinese Islam include Xi’an, home to the Hui Muslim community and the Great Mosque. Another one is Kashgar in Xinjiang, a cultural hub for Uighur Muslims. Lanzhou is famous for its Hui population and halal food culture. Xi’an is defintiely the most historic as a center of Islamic culture and trade.
Chinese Islam and Other Religions
Islam in China coexists with other religions, such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, in a diverse and generally tolerant religious shared culture.
With Taoism, the two coexist peacefully, with distinct beliefs and practices. Taoism’s focus on harmony with nature is compatible with Islam’s focuses on submission to the Divine, which is everywhere and in everything.
Taosim also shares cultural values like respect for family, and in most regions, they coexist without significant theological conflict or fusion.
Islam and Confucianism coexist with mutual respect. Confucianism’s focus on ethics, family, and societal harmony is compatible with Islam, which values the same. Both have declared value respect for elders and social order, nurturing peaceful coexistence, particularly in multicultural regions like Xi’an.
With Buddhism, Islam coexists peacefully, with distinct practices and beliefs. Buddhism focuses on meditation and enlightenment, and these are something the historically large Sufi Muslims value. Both faiths also focus on compassion, ethical living, and community, fostering mutual respect. In regions like Xinjiang, their coexistence highlights China’s religious diversity and tolerance.
Islam also coexists with smaller faiths like Christianity, Folk Religions, and Shamanism with varying degrees of interaction. While each maintains distinct beliefs and practices, shared values such as respect for family and community promote peaceful coexistence.
Conclusion
Islam in China was introduced during the Tang Dynasty through trade and diplomacy, grew under the Yuan Dynasty with Mongol influence, and the Hui emerged as a distinct group by the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Despite periods of tension under the various regimes, Chinese Muslims now enjoy broad religious freedoms and protections.
Islam’s long history in China meant the cultivation of diverse communities, cultures, and relationships with others.
I invite you all to visit China and experience Chinese Islam for yourself.
May Allah continue to guide us all.
Imam Daayiee Abdullah is the Executive Director of MECCA Institute and the author of “Progressive Islam,” a historic book that defines Progressive Islam.