My time in China has taught me somthing that is both interesting and frustrating: the Chinese think they invented everything. They did, of course, invent a lot of things. But these days it seems claims are coming out left and right that the Chinese were the first to do this or the first to make that or the first to go here or there or everywhere. There are even claims that they invented golf. Is nothing sacred?
Well speaking of matters of the sacred…
A recent news story has raised the possibility that it may have been the Chinese who spread Islam throughout the Malay archipelago, not (just) the Arabs. (the story is at the Telegraph, via Islamicate.)
Here in Guangzhou, one need only pay a visit to the Light Tower mosque—the oldest mosque in China—to not only see but also feel the long relationship between Islam and the Chinese.
I can’t help but wonder if the discoveries mentioned in the article will have any effect (and I’m talking about positive effects here) on the relationship between Malaysia’s two major ethnic groups.
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I bet if you time it right you can cause the head of an UMNO youth member to explode! XD
It is entirely possible that Chinese Muslims reached the Nusantara first, but all evidence suggests that Islam was propagated by the Yemenis, the most convincing of which is that all the notable Malaysian ulama have chains of transmission going in that direction, the silsila being an extremely important condition for establishing the credibility of a teacher.
Even if it were true, though, I don’t see it causing any heads to explode. The Malaysian government already strongly promotes awareness of Islam in China through Chinese Islamic art collections etc, I imagine for its potential to build national unity.
Dear Mac,
Assalamualaikum w.b. to you and your Leen.
This is off topic, but congratulations on your Master Macvay coming in September.
Hope Allah will bless you both and make your son a soleh and obedient to Allah, which includes being good to the both of you.
Now, back to topic.
Actually, there are three theories to the spread of Islam in the Malay archipelago.
1. Islam came from India;
2. Islam from the Arabian Peninsular; and,
3. Islam came from China.
You can find this in many text books and the easiest reference is a general statement in wikipedia under the subject “Malay People”.
By the way, people say that there are more muslims in China than in Malaysia.
People also say that the food by Muslims in Guangdong are better than the food made and sold by the non-Muslims.
Mac, on another topic, of course the boy who was trying to sell you bread knows that you are a Muslim. You can differentiate a muslim from a non. It is from the expression or more accurately, on what we, the Malays speaking people call “air muka”. But not always accurate, I’d say around 98% of the time, correct..
Back to the new Macvay, have you Mac, know what to do to the boy after birth? The azan & iqamah stuff? Have both of you decided on a name?
Good luck.
Assalamualaikum w.b.
The Chinese lived on Cape Breton in Maritime Atlantic Canada long before Columbus got lost in the caribbean:
http://www.islandofsevencities.com
The Island of Seven Cities confirm that the Chinese lived here in Canada on the Atlantic side in harmony with the First Nations Peoples.
The First Nations call North America, Turtle Island.
The Chinese call North America, Gold Mountain.
And I….
am hungry and want dim sum for sahoor
:-O