Mundoo with Muslims of China: Did you eat? Did you sleep?

Did you eat?
Did you sleep?

When Chairman Mao Zedong carried out the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, a mega project that changed the rural farming areas to modern cities, the farming sector shook to its core. There were food shortages. In those days, it became common place to say "did you eat?" or "did you sleep?" as endearment, concern during those days. China is the largest country in the world. Second largest economy. One of the global three powers. These two terms became a sign of camaraderie, love and affection in the nation of 1.37 billion. Today in Xi'an city, I'm posing these very questions, aimed at the 22 million Muslims living in China. Did you eat? Did you sleep?

Why should I ask this question in one of the most populous cities in China, standing in the Muslim Street in the city, for these Muslims? I had this question on my mind due to the various media reports that say Muslims in China are barred from practicing their faith, fasting. I had to find out whether Muslims in China had any restrictions in trading, going to mosques or their daily lives

So I entered a restaurant in the Muslim Street, said my salaams and said, "Nǐ chīle méi? Nǐ shuìjiàole ma?" Everyone smiled, replied with a chorus of "Alhamdhulillah". So what's the basis for these media reports?

Every Chinese city caters to Muslims, selling halal food. Most restaurants and cafe's are halal and sometimes run entirely by Muslims. All markets display halal signs on meat, poultry slain according to halal rites. The shahadha is displayed in Arabic on nameboards. China is a nation famed for its population control measures, with the one child policy. In most regions of China, Muslims had been exempted from policy. Many Muslim families in cities can have two or three children. In the rural areas, families can have three or four children.

Another shop. Their clientele are mostly young Muslim girls and middle aged women. Halal food and beef slaughtered according to Islamic rites were sold. The clientele observed proper clothing and Islamic values. One youth told me that the issue of Muslims in China hit the headlines every year, due to political targeting by Western governments to China.

In the 67 years since the establishment of People's Republic of China and the formation of Communist-Socialist state, China had been one of the nations advocating for Islamic nations. This directly contradicts the very media reports perpetrated.

"Is China anti-Islam or anti-Muslim? Do you see that? Yes, there could be people with hard line views. The West continue to see the situation from this viewpoint and target against China on this basis every year. Most of these stories are fabrications," a food seller elaborated, while going on her business of selling meat dishes. -- Thank you!

One of the administrative staff of the Grand Mosque minaret, travels a long distance for work everyday. He used to be an atheist. When he knew that I was a Muslim, he wanted to take a photograph with me. Even after that he refused to let go of my hand. One of my questions spurred a series of questions aimed at me.

He said the issue of China and Muslims were exaggerated, the truth is far from what people say.

"Muslims here are spread into two main groups. Out of the 55 groups China had formally recognized, the second largest is the Hui and the Uyghurs hailing from the troubled Xinjiang. The West primarily focus on the small issues in this region, make it bigger. We have no issues,"

"Did you eat? Did you sleep?" were the last words he said in farewell after showing the area in the mosque used for ablutions.

Islam crossed the Great Wall of China 1400 years ago. Based on what I have seen the reports that Muslims are denied their rights to practice Islam and forced out of Islam were untrue.

In the week I spent in China, I had not seen any any such activity that suggested that Muslims were discriminated. The scholars, Muslims and Imams in the city had refuted these claims. They resoundingly agreed that there were no restrictions for Muslims in China.

Given this environment, then it is apparent that the stories and reports perpetrated by media have other motives. China had been an advocate for Islamic nations and such media reports will seek to hamper the good relations between China and Islamic nations.

Chinese Muslims and official documentation show that Islam was first brought to China by Saud bin Abi Waqqas, an associate of the Prophet. The first mosque in China is the Huaisheng Mosque in Guangzhou. Reportedly the mosque was built in the memory of Saud bin Abi Waqqas. The mosque became a beacon for the spread of Islam. From then onward, the number of Muslims in China increased day by day.

China is a Communist, socialist nation. Instead of promoting any religion, the state promotes the nation and nationality. However, from 1953 onward, Chinese Government had initiated official sanctions to protect Islam and the rights of Muslims in China.

Like in the Maldives, all mosques in China calls for prayer. Every mosque, in every prayer time, makes sure that the azaan or call for prayer is hear loudly. Muslim women and men are easily identifiable by their clothing. Men donned the prayer caps, women were in hijab. They had no difficulties in attending prayer and Friday prayers in congregation.

Xi'an city is the ancient capital of China, home to eight million souls. Out of this only one percent is Muslims. The one percent follow the Sunni faith, conduct their business as per Islamic finance methods.

Bank of Xi'an, one of the largest banks in China, is an Islamic finance hub. Both senior and junior positions of the Army and the Communist Party, two of the most respected institutions in China, are filled by Muslims. Chinese history is filled with examples of Muslims officers sacrificing their lives for the betterment of the nation.

Every Chinese city caters to Muslims, selling halal food. Most restaurants and cafe's are halal and sometimes run entirely by Muslims. All markets display halal signs on meat, poultry slain according to halal rites. The shahadha is displayed in Arabic on nameboards. China is a nation famed for its population control measures, with the one child policy. In most regions of China, Muslims had been exempted from policy. Many Muslim families in cities can have two or three children. In the rural areas, families can have three or four children.

Xi'an City's largest mosque is an architectural and historical marvel. Sermons and discussions on Islam and Islamic faith are carried out everyday in the mosque. A special hall had been created adjacent to the main hall in the mosque for this purpose. The mosque was completed in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty. The mosque was constructed on a 12,000 square meter area. The road leading to the mosque and the surrounding areas, are peppered with cafe's providing halal food, prominently displaying Islamic cultural signs. It is rare to see a cafe' or a shop without the two lines of the shahadha in this area.

So again, did you eat? Did you sleep?

From Xi'an City, China; Mundoo Adam Haleem