Gar-haye Posted December 16, 2007 Record Chinese Perform Hajj A record 10,700 Chinese Muslims are expected to join more than three million Muslims from across the world in this year's hajj. CAIRO — A record number of Chinese Muslims will be performing the soul-searching hajj this year, amid increasing government facilities in a trend linked to Beijing's desire to win hearts in oil-rich Middle East. "When I first made the hajj in 1998, there were just 48 people who went from Wuzhong," imam Ma Wanyun told the Sunday Telegraph on December 16, referring to a city in the Muslim-dominant autonomous region of Ningxia. "This year, about 500 are going." According to the Islamic Association of China (IAC), a record 10,700 Chinese Muslims are in Saudi Arabia to perform hajj, which starts on Monday, December 17. It is only recently that Chinese Muslims have been able to go on hajj in substantial numbers. Many faithful in the Asian nation have long been grounded by bureaucratic hurdles and political obstacles. According to official data, China has 20 million Muslims, most of them are concentrated in Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai regions and provinces. Other estimate put the number as high as 35 million. One of the five pillars of Islam, hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family. Every able-bodied adult Muslim — who can financially afford the trip — must perform hajj, which starts later this month, at least once in their lifetime. Facilities This year the government has offered more facilities to Muslims seeking to perform the once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey. Five departure ports for non-stop flights to Saudi Arabia have been offered from Beijing and four Muslim-dominant provinces. The government also allowed the IAC to use chartered planes to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, saving them both time and money. The government's newborn attitude is seen as part of a broader drive to better accommodate its Muslims, according to the Telegraph. Thousands of Muslims are now allowed to go to study in Muslim countries each year. Across China, especially in the Muslim regions, hundreds of Arabic language schools have sprung up. The ethnic Hui Muslim community, mainly concentrated in northwestern China, is enjoying more religious freedom in the atheist country. They are increasingly allowed to build mosques and Islamic schools in their areas. The government's facilities are seen as motivated by resource-hungry China's endeavors to forge better ties with Muslim states in the oil-rich Middle East. "The government encourages us to learn Arabic because China and the Arab countries have a good relationship, and it's getting better," said Hei Yuze, a student at an Arabic school in Ningxia's capital, Yinchuan. The Asian economic giant has been quietly moving onto traditional US turf in the Middle East. China is working hard to secure long-term contracts with Arab countries for oil, gas and minerals to fuel its booming economy. In 2006, China's exports to Arab countries reached $31 billion, while imports amounted to $34 billion. Hei, 20, noted that with the new horizons in Chinese-Arab ties, the Arabic language has become popular in his home country. "Everyone here wants to learn Arabic to get a better job." But for him, learning Arabic is more spiritual. "For me it's not just about the money. I'm a Muslim, and Arabic is the language of my religion." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Odeyga Posted December 18, 2007 A record number of Chinese Muslims will be performing the soul-searching hajj this year, amid increasing government facilities in a trend linked to Beijing's desire to win hearts in oil-rich Middle East … ________________________________ Yet, other estimates put the number of Chinese Muslims as high as 100 million, more than the population of any Arab country. The increase in the number of Chinese pilgrims, though, could be due to other socio-economic factors, apart from the sinister “Beijing’s desire to win hearts in oil-rich Middle East”. Hajj Mabruur for them and all Hujjaaj Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
