Civil Rights
Forced NOT to Fast: Plight of Muslim Uyghurs
“Muslim restaurant owners are forced to sign a document to remain open and continue selling alcohol during Ramadan”
Remember the fall of Al Andalus, Muslim Spain in 1492 and how the Muslims were progressively forced to act as Christians to hide their identity?
Well, don’t we say that Histoy repeats itself? Believe it or not but the same thing is happening today, and about 8 millions Muslims can’t pray, fast and worship Allah swt as they want.
Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah
Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.
The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.
Here is an article of the Epoch Times that details the evil plan of the Chinese Government to harrass and restrict the Muslims in they daily lives:
Chinese authorities in Xinjiang Province have issued a notice that any Uyghur cadres or workers found not eating lunch during Ramadan could lose their jobs.
It is part of the campaign of local authorities in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group, to force the Uyghur people to give up their religious rituals during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar, which begun this year on Aug. 22. It requires not eating during the daytime.
“Free lunches, tea, and coffee—that authorities are calling ‘Care from the government’ or ‘Living allowance’—are being offered in government departments and companies. But it is actually a ploy used to find out who is fasting,” said Dilxat Raxit, World Uyghur Congress spokesman, speaking to The Epoch Times.
According to Dilxat, Uyghur Communist Party cadres throughout Xinjiang had been forced to sign “letters of responsibility” promising to avoid fasting and other religious activities. They are also responsible for enforcing the policy in their assigned areas, and face punishment if anyone in these areas fasts.
For the first time, Dilxat said, the crackdown has extended to retired Communist Party members. Current cadres are required to visit them to prevent them from participating in the fast. If anyone violates the ban, local leaders will be held responsible and severely punished, he said.
Muslim restaurant owners are forced to sign a document to remain open and continue selling alcohol during Ramadan or have their licenses revoked, he said.
Uyghurs arrested during the July riots in Urumqi are also prohibited from fasting; those who insist on fasting will be force fed food and water while enduring insults for their misbehavior, he said in the interview.
Monks in mosques are forced to preach to others that fasting is a “feudal activity” and harmful to health, said Dilxat. Otherwise, their religious certification will be cancelled.
When asked about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Xinjiang, Dilxat said: “Xinjiang’s situation has not yet returned to normal. Rather than asking the local Han people to respect the religion and culture of Uyghur people, Hu encouraged the use of military troops to suppress and further restrict our religious freedom. The communist regime often talks about ‘maintaining stability,’ but what they do is always different from what they say. They are actually the ones who are destroying stability.”
An Epoch Times reporter contacted the CCP’s State Ethnic Affairs Commission to see whether the restrictions claimed by Dilxat were official, or what the official stance on Ramadan was. The media contact wouldn’t speak on the subject, instead giving two numbers in Xinjiang that he said the reporter would be able to call to find out more. Both numbers were continually busy, and when the reporter called the State Ethnic Affairs Commission back, the man hung up.
The directives are communicated on official Web sites in the region, however.
Additional reporting by Matthew Robertson
Read original article in Chinese.
While you are enjoying your delicious meal during iftaars, the great nights of ibadaah in the masjids, pleas let us not forget our brothers and sisters in need, who can’t even fast and pray freely. May Allah swt give victory to the Mu’minoon and give Sabr to those suffering around the world.
(Photo courtesy: Jerry Wu/The Epoch Times)
Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah
Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.
The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.
[Podcast] How To Free A Jinn & Other Questions | Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil
Study Classical Texts the Traditional Way | Session 3
Processing Spiritual Abuse In Islam: A Comprehensive Guide For Individuals, Communities, And Organizations
Family Troubles Of The Prophets: A MuslimMatters Series – [Part I] Sibling Rivalries Gone Wild
Dear Resilient Soul… – A Message To Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Trauma
MuslimMatters Official Statement On Wisam Sharieff
Statement Against Abuse: The Female Scholars Network
Sami Hamdi: “Muslims Must Abandon Harris” | Transcript and Summary
Keeping Our Children Safe From Predators: A Guide For Parents
From The Chaplain’s Desk – Reap The Rewards Of Being Mindful Of Allah
Study Classical Texts The Traditional Way [Session 1] | Sh. Yaser Birjas
Sami Hamdi: “Muslims Must Abandon Harris” | Transcript and Summary
IOK Ramadan: The Importance of Spiritual Purification | Keys To The Divine Compass [Ep30]
IOK Ramadan: The Power of Prayer | Keys To The Divine Compass [Ep29]
IOK Ramadan: The Weight of the Qur’an | Keys To The Divine Compass [Ep28]
-
Announcements2 weeks agoMuslimMatters Official Statement On Wisam Sharieff
-
featured1 month ago
The Role Of Kurds In The Dissemination Of Islamic Knowledge In The Malay Archipelago
-
#Current Affairs1 month ago
Why Mehdi Hasan’s “Lesser Of Two Evils” Election Advice Is Wrong
-
#Society2 weeks ago
Statement Against Abuse: The Female Scholars Network
Amatullah
September 4, 2009 at 7:19 PM
inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon. May Allah azza wa jal alleviate their hardships.
It’s so easy to forget the trials that are happening all around us to our fellow Muslims because of the society we live in.
The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Allah and His Messenger are the helpers of those who have no helpers.” (Saheeh al Jami’)
Mohamed
September 6, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Asalam Alaikum,
thats a false hadeeth sister…you just committed shirk sister…Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) can’t help you or me…do you know why? because he is dead….if you ask for help…ask Allah (saw) and that it!
When prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died..Abu Bakr (as) said “whoever worships Muhammad (saw), than know that Muhammad has died and whoever worships Allah, know that Allah is alive and doesn’t die”
Forgive me sister, I don’t even normally comment, but when you see a wrong it is a Muslim’s duty to correct it.
Once again forgive me
Wallah wa3alam
Muhammad ud-Deen
September 6, 2009 at 7:08 PM
bismillaah
salaam,
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:lA7_-wnYo_AJ:izzatulillah.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/selections-from-al-albani/+“Allah+and+His+Messenger+are+the+helpers+of+those+who+have+no+helpers.”&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
bro your comment is very very rude and lacks the most basic of manners. you have accused the sister of shirk for something that is lacking in your own understanding. she did not mention anything to do with shirk or associating anything with Allaah. i just did a basic search on google by copying and pasting the above mentioned hadith and it turns out that there is a hadith reportedly from sahih al jami’, authenticated by none other than shakyh al-albani which is matching the quote by the sister.
may Allaah indeed forgive you and guide you. please don’t be so hasty and always think best of your brothers and your sisters.
may Allaah bless you,
Muhammad ud-Deen
Sami
September 8, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Mohamed, you are an asbolute idiot.
ummimaryam
September 4, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Assalamualykum,
It`s so painful to even read this.May Allah help them and reward them more and more in this duniya and in hereafter.
Yah Rehmaanu!!! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us ..Yah Allah!! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Mawla and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”Aameen.
salaam.
hamida
September 5, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Aameen
Pingback: Big Damn Hero. « Running Muslimah
Ahmed
September 5, 2009 at 3:42 AM
Forced to sign a document saying they will continue to sell alcohol !!! What are the Muslim restaurant owners themselves doing by selling alcohol even in other months ?
hamida
September 5, 2009 at 10:27 AM
i think the government forces the Muslim owners to cater towards non Muslims . I doubt there’s any
” Muslim restaurants” but mostly owners who happen to be Muslim, who would probably not want to sell alcohol, but really cant because of restrictions . This is my take on that.
shahgul
September 6, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Let us not haste to judge those Muslims. They do not live in a Muslim country, or a free society. We do not know what we, ourselves would do if we were in their position. Remember, all sins are small compared to unbelief. They are holding on to their beliefs under very difficult circumstances. I don’t think they are even free to leave. Just make dua for them.
Kay
September 5, 2009 at 4:18 AM
How to help, now that we are aware?
hamida
September 5, 2009 at 10:28 AM
good question
shahgul
September 6, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Assalamu alaikum,
Here is some information about the leadership of the World Uighur Congress (the link to the congress page has a virus in it)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6732445.ece
This link to the congress’s page is safe. It has contact information. Maybe we could get Rebyia Qadeer to come over to Houston and show her movie.
http://www.uyghurcongress.org/En/contact.asp?mid=1420578219
hayat
September 5, 2009 at 11:09 AM
YA ALLHA WHAT A PAIN TO HEAR. i feel pain when i read about muslim around the world i became vary sensetive in this matter i do not know if it is normal each time i think of those who seffer for deen for uma last time i heard news in somali inside musged some pakistanis were in dawa and has been murderd by someone unkwon inside mesjed ina lialhi weina elihi ragiun. every were is bad thing to hear i do not know were to go. one will rest only in tomb that also need speciall thing to prepare inorder to rest other wice if we did not do kair there is not were to rest. alahuma adkilnel jena
even thouge i am not somli or pakistan i felt so much pain for any news that come for muslim even bad or good muslim .
and after isha i did wirdlateef and cry so much for those who die to defend deen inside mesged others while fastin ya reb. and i sayd somehting i should not have said before oh allah why you let all this suffering for mslim and someof them die while they are doing what u order them to do.
the same day i dreamd that me and big camel were together inside a big sea. and after there is a vary big so big quran from the sky came to me and it was like wind openiing slowly each page till it reach suratul imaran and some voice slowly keep saying read read read it ,read and welahi i start reading it beside me there is camel swimming in the sea and i wake up quicly and went and make wudu in the middle of the night and start reading suratul imaran as soon as i reach this ayat that maks me cry again the ayat i remeber most was
Ø¥Ùنَّ ٱلَّذÙينَ ÙŠÙŽÙƒÛ¡ÙÙرÙونَ بÙـَٔايَـٰت٠ٱللَّه٠وَيَقۡتÙÙ„Ùونَ ٱلنَّبÙيّÙÙ€Û§Ù†ÙŽ بÙغَيۡر٠ØَقّÙÛ¬ وَيَقۡتÙÙ„Ùونَ ٱلَّذÙينَ ÙŠÙŽØ£Û¡Ù…ÙرÙونَ بÙٱلۡقÙسۡط٠مÙÙ†ÙŽ ٱلنَّاس٠ÙَبَشّÙرۡهÙÙ… بÙعَذَاب٠أَلÙيمÙ
20) Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slay the prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin equity: promise them a painful doom.
subhan allah this dream teach me that never to say why he allaw those suffering. because our knowlge is little only he knows what will happen and why it happen allah knows everything .. he can destroy the world in a min . lets make dua for them inchalla my dua will be ya reb idribizalimina bizalimin idribil munfikina bil munafikin. amin
our only weapun is dua let us all make dua for maircle inchalla.
my english is not good sorry ya jematel khir
fi amani lah
dawud farquhar
September 5, 2009 at 11:41 AM
These commies are simply harming themselves. Muslims may be forced to forego their religious duties, but who is going to save these godless commies from Allaah’s wrath in the Hereafter? I think we as Muslims have a colelctive duty to make du’a and help our brothers and sisters in ‘Xinjiang’ as much as we can, but let us not be disheartened from the Mercy and Will of Allaah SWT. He tries those He loves and whether the Uighurs succeed or fail in the brutal onslaught of the Chinese commies, they can rest assured that the ultimate success will be theirs ‘inshaa Allaah.
Shoeb K
September 5, 2009 at 5:05 PM
China does not have freedom for anybody. So, either we take the case of freedom for all or none.
As nation-states evolve and establish, it is important that we do not get into another country’s internal politics and rules.
We are not all encompassing either — so, can a Christian build a church in Saudi Arabia for his prayers? I am of the firm opinion that we cannot throw stones unless we ourselves are clean.
It is high time we stop worrying about people just because they are Muslims; let us all focus on our own countries and make it a better place. By worrying about all in the Ummah we are not doing any good fro anybody; neither for the Ugyars, nor for PAkistan 9or whatever country each of us is from)
S.A.
September 6, 2009 at 7:31 AM
*sigh/yawn”
Right, and we shall take your advice over that of the Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhiwasallam), shall we?
“The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.†[Sahih Muslim, Book 032, Number 6258]
Mehdi
September 6, 2009 at 7:53 PM
I am tired of people always bringing forward this stupid argument that secular countries are “free” cause you can practice your religion freely whatever it is and Islamic nations are not because chistian churches or the following aren’t allowed.
The very argument is flawed because in a secular country there is no acceptable standard of what is considered the “truth” so neither Islaam, Hinduism or Christiaity has any differences from an abslutely secualr point of view. Wwhereas in a country that establishes Shariah there is already an accepted standard of what is “truth” i.e. Islaam therefore plain rationality does not allow the establishment of that which is falsehood.
As a simple analogy, suppose you have a family and children. You consider smoking marijuana to be wrong but your hippie son thinks its okay. In no manner would you tolerate him smoking in your household regardless of his convictions. If you believe something to be true you will never allow that which goes against that to stand. Plain and simple.
Anon
September 6, 2009 at 11:48 AM
How to help?
1.) Du’a for Uighur brothers/sisters
2.) Support the NGO’s that are exposing Chinese tyrrany against the Uighurs:
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, World Uighur Congress. I would email Amnesty and HRW to request that they increase their coverage of rights abuses in Xinjiang.
3.) Contact Islamic Relief to see if they are providing services to Uighurs in China.
4.) Email Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC to request they respect rights of minorities in China
5.) Email CAIR/ISNA to suggest that they request a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to the United States to discuss the situation in Xinjiang.
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
September 6, 2009 at 2:36 PM
People underestimate the effect of writing letters to the governments that oppress Muslims, because two of those governments — ours and the zionists’ — really seem like they could care less what we want.
But most foreign countries want to be well-respected internationally. And China is especially image-conscious.
In most masajid I have visited here in the States, after Maghrib when everyone finishes eating, there is still time before Isha. One thing you could do if your local masjid permits is have a letter-writing table. Invite people when they are done eating to come and write out a short letter to the Chinese government. Short individual letters work better than petitions.
You could write to the embassy, but actually the best choices are the heads of state — the President of China. That is the strategy used by groups like Amnesty International for decades, and it really works.
Have a night of compassion and solidarity for our Uighur brothers and sisters in your masajid. May Allah accept it from us, and give relief to the Muslims under oppression.
Suleman
September 7, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Salam alai kum brothers and sisters
Please brothers and sisters we must learn to use adhab upon addressing each others. Let’s also not be quick to judge one another. We Muslims have great problems of our own as it is and if we carry on like this we’re just going to continue to cause more divide amongst ourselves.
Forgive me if I have upset anyone.
Salam alai kum
ummaasiyah
September 7, 2009 at 6:17 PM
It is so painful to read this and to know that there are Muslims out there suffering for the deen…inshaAllah, they will be rewarded for their patience. In the meantime, here is something of some solace:
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu ‘anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said:
“Allah the Almighty has said: ‘Whosoever acts with enmity towards a closer servant of Mine (wali), I will indeed declare war against him. Nothing endears My servant to Me than doing of what I have made obligatory upon him to do. And My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with supererogatory (nawafil) prayers so that I shall love him. When I love him, I shall be his hearing with which he shall hear, his sight with which he shall see, his hands with which he shall hold, and his feet with which he shall walk. And if he asks (something) of Me, I shall surely give it to him, and if he takes refuge in Me, I shall certainly grant him it.'”
So let Allah(swt) make the oppressors pay for declaring war on these steadfast Muslims.
Ms. Muqaddim
September 8, 2009 at 10:48 AM
As-Salamu Alaykum
It’s so painful to read about the Uighurs people. They have suffered ever since their country was known as East Turkestan was invanded by Chinese and changed to Xianjiang. Abstracted from: http://www.uyghuramerican.org/categories/About-Uyghurs/ “Mosques are summarily closed and the Uyghur language is banned from use in universities. Uyghurs are subjected to compulsory unpaid labor in the construction of a pipeline planned to export local petroleum resources to other parts of China”
May Allah grants His mercy to all the Ugyhur people, ameen
Umar Farooq
September 8, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Assalamu alaikum. All praise is due to the most high who gave us the book of truth and made it a distinction so we could know the truth
We pray for these brothers that they take this as none other than a test from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ la. Liberty is something that one should not compromise with , Even the non-muslims forefathers in America new this when one of them remarked ‘ Give me liberty , or give me death’
If a non-believer can stand up for what they believe , how about a muslim whom Allah refers to as
‘ best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men’. This is a lesson to muslims that we should not compromise our deen not one iota ( ie. selling alcohol ) even at the threat of bloodshed but dont take my word for it , refer to the book of Allah
(Firon) said: You believe in him before I give you leave; most surely he is the chief of you who taught you enchantment, therefore I will certainly cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will certainly crucify you on the trunks of the palm trees, and certainly you will come to know which of us is the more severe and the more abiding in chastising.[20:72] They said: We do not prefer you to what has come to us of clear arguments and to He Who made us, therefore decide what you are going to decide; you can only decide about this world’s life[20:71-72]
hUddi
November 26, 2009 at 6:53 AM
may Allah make it easy for them
Wael - IslamicAnswers.com
November 21, 2010 at 11:07 PM
May Allah aid them and give them victory. I hope that one day Communism in China will fall, and that China will split apart as the Soviet Union did. Let the Tibetans be free, let the Uighurs be free, and any other minorities who have been forced into the Chinese state, let them be free. I don’t believe that Allah will allow this oppression to continue forever.
Keep them in your duas, and keep the issue in the media spotlight. Make people aware of what is happening.