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مشاهدة النسخة كاملة : Ramadan in China



من هناك
10-08-2006, 02:32 PM
Ramadan in China





For Muslims in China, Ramadan is traditionally a period of fraternity, solidarity and Islamic charity.

Li Xan is a Chinese student who studies engineering at the Universidad Del Desarrollo in Chile. He has been living with his father in Chile for 3 years now. However, he remembers how his family used to celebrate Ramadan in China. "During Ramadan, my father would get up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and an hour later he'd arrive at the Mosque of Niujie, in the center of Beijing, just in time for the dawn prayer."

For Muslims in China, Ramadan is traditionally a period of fraternity, solidarity and Islamic charity.

"Every day in Ramadan, we attended all the five prayers at the mosque. My father's friends understood our commitment, and when he was occupied with a lot of work they would help him to do it so that he could be punctual for prayers," Li explained.

Li is among more than 20 million Chinese Muslims that live by Ramadan's obligations, continuing strictly the Islamic doctrines, praying five times a day in mosques and abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk.

According to the Islamic Association of China, Chinese Muslims have convenient access to prayer services as there are more than 34,000 mosques throughout the country.

"Since the foundation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, the rights and religious liberty of the Muslims have been protected by the constitution and the law," he states.

The Niujie Mosque, built in 996, and that of Dongsi, 500 years old, are the two most famous mosques in the capital. The Niujie Mosque is an important center for Islamic Studies and operates a Qur'an school. During the last five decades years, the government has assigned special funds for the repair of these buildings because of their historical importance.

Beijing has over 900 Muslim restaurants and food stores. Some supermarkets sell food especially for followers of Islam. "Thanks to the social stability and the fast economic growth of the country, Chinese Muslims enjoy a peaceful Ramadan. Many Muslims share traditional food with their neighbors, and distribute gifts to poorer Muslims," noted Hang Xian a 61-year-old Chinese Muslim trader.

Wherever you are, Ramadan is undoubtedly a most special month.