Gedimu

Gedimu(Chinese:Cách địch mục;pinyin:Gédímù) orQadim(Arabic:قديم) is the earliest school of Islam in China. It is aHanafi,^[1]non-Sufischool of theSunnitradition. Its supporters are centered on local mosques, which function as relatively independent units.^[2]

It is numerically the largest Hui school of thought in China.^[3]

Since the introduction of Islam in China, during theTang dynasty,it continued to theMing dynastywith no schisms.^[4]At the end of the Ming and earlyQing dynasty,Sufismwas introduced to China. Muslims in what are nowXin gian g,Gansu and Qinghai, began to convert to the Sufi sects, and the new sects were referred to as old teaching / New Faith / New Religion (Chinese xinpai or Xinjiao). Those who clung to the old beliefs were called members of the Gedimu (from Arabic قديم "qadim", meaning 'ancient'), or in Chinese Laojiao (the old doctrine).^{[citation needed]}

In the religious ideas of this school the basic Islamic principles ofTawheed^[5]are maintained.^{[citation needed]}In religious practice, this requires of the faithful a strict observance of the principle of Rukun, the five basic duties of Islam.^[6]

In the long period of development formed a conservative tradition.^[7]It is against unorthodox innovations and sticks to the old rules, without interference in the affairs of other denominations.^{[citation needed]}

Another important feature of the school is that it puts a focus on culture and education. Organised by the mosques, they send the children from their neighborhood to receive religious instruction. Usually Arabic and Persian writings are studied.^{[citation needed]}

Qadim has spread the longest history in China. In its development, the school has been somewhat influenced by Chinese culture and has manyHan Chinesecustoms and traditions included in its rites. [5]^{[clarification needed]}The mosque architecture is different from that of other Muslim areas. Qadim was the result of the Sunni faith in a particular environment in the China proper.^{[citation needed]}

Jingtang Jiaoyuis a form of Islamic education, influenced by Chinese culture, which the Gedimu Muslims pride themselves in learning. Jingtang Jiaoyu does not closely approximate Arabic due to the limitations of the vernacular spoken Chinese, in particular, its vowels and final consonants, it produces a sinicized pronunciation of the Arabic language. Many Hui who used it said Salaam Aleikun instead of Salaam Alaikum.^{[citation needed]}

The Hanafi Sunni Gedimu has been somewhat influenced by Chinese customs and the Jingtang Jiaoyu method of education, refusing to pronounce Arabic in the Arab manner even when learning of the standard pronunciation. Hanfi Sunni Sunnaiti's (Yihewaniadherents) criticize the Gedimu for practicing Islamic customs influenced by Chinese culture, including Jingtang Jiaoyu, Sunnaiti's pride themselves on speaking correct Arabic, accusing the Gedimu Muslims of practicing Han and Buddhist customs and "Chinese Arabic". One Sunnaiti Imam said of the Gedimu, "blindly followed the traditions of their ancestors".^[8]

Gedimu adherents use Mosques which are built likeChinese style templeswith Minarets resemblingpagodas,in contrast to Yihewani members, who build their Mosques and Minarets to resemble Middle Eastern style architecture.^{[citation needed]}

Still, Gedimu has been much less influenced by Chinese culture than some Islamic other school s, such as Qadiriyya and Xidaotang.^{[citation needed]}

Gedimu

See also

References

Further reading