Chapter 16 Section 7 General Customs

There are 10 ethnic minorities in China who believe in Islam.Their customs are mainly ethnic rather than religious.Therefore, the customs of Muslims of all ethnic groups are not completely consistent.For example, in weddings, there is a big difference between the Kazakhs and the Huis.What is briefly described below is just the reflection of religious factors in customs. Chinese Muslim marriages are established according to certain religious ceremonies.Marriage is usually chosen on Judah.Be sure to ask the head teacher or imam to witness the marriage and recite scriptures.After obtaining the consent of the parents of the bride and groom, the matchmaker, and the groom and the bride, the imam or imam writes the marriage certificate, which confirms the marriage.

Islam stipulates that burial is carried out after death, and funerals are held for the dead.Chinese Muslims call death "guizhen" or "impermanence" in areas where Chinese is commonly spoken.The so-called burial does not use a coffin, but the corpse is buried directly in the soil, with the corpse facing north-south and facing west.Influenced by traditional culture, Chinese Muslim graves mostly have mounds on the ground.After death, people should be buried quickly, and the mortuary generally does not exceed three days.A thin burial is also required, and there must be no funerary objects in the grave.Affected by traditional culture, Muslims in certain areas of China hold sacrifices, visit graves, and recite scriptures on the seventh, second, third, fortieth, hundredth, anniversary, and three-year anniversary of the death of a person.

The classic name is also called "Huihui name".After the Ming Dynasty, almost all Chinese Muslims in China changed their Chinese surnames and gave them Chinese names.In order to meet the needs of religious activities, a sutra name is generally given at the same time.After a Chinese Muslim baby is born, within three days, an imam is invited to come to the house (or go to the mosque) to hold a religious ceremony to name the baby.The imam first whispers the adhan to the baby, then blows on the baby's ear (male left, female right), and writes the name of the scriptures on the paper in both Chinese and Arabic, and the ceremony is over.Most men's scriptural names are Osman (the name of the third caliph), Ali (the name of the fourth caliph), Hussein, Hassan (the name of the son of the fourth caliph), etc., and most of the female scriptural names are Fatima (the name of Muhammad's daughter), Aisha, Kheditcher (the name of Muhammad's wife), etc.

The clothing of Chinese Muslims is national rather than religious.If there is one exception, it is probably that women must wear a covering when they go out from home.Most male Muslims like to wear a small white cap on a regular basis.When praying in mosques, including Friday gatherings, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha gatherings, and individual individual worship, you must wear a small hat, most of which are white hats.Generally speaking, the imam or imam who receives prayers during Juliah and congregation must wrap his head and wear a long white gown with a side skirt. Islam prohibits eating pork.Regarding this issue, there is a clear instruction:

He (Allah) only forbids you to eat dead things, blood, pork, and animals that have been slaughtered without the name of Allah.A person who is forced by the situation, does not do so voluntarily, and who does not go too far [even if he eats forbidden things] is not guilty. (2:173) You (Muhammad) said: "In my revelation I cannot find any food that no one should eat, except from dead things, or blood that is shed, or pork—(for they are unclean indeed)— — or the sinful one who is killed by chanting the Name of God.” (6:145) The fasting of pork is prescribed by Islamic teachings and is a behavioral element in the belief.Therefore, it is the proper meaning of Islam itself.Chinese Muslims strictly abide by the rules of fasting pork.It has actually become a social custom of Muslims.Chinese Muslims are quite sensitive about this issue.Every non-Muslim should consciously respect this custom of Muslims.