Why Do Muslim Issues Often Trouble Western Countries, While China Handles Them Well?
Muslims are those who follow the teachings of Islam, and the term is transliterated to mean "those who submit."
As one of the world's three major religions, Islam has a history spanning over a thousand years.
Throughout its long development, Islam has faced numerous challenges.
The founder of Islam, Muhammad, established the religion in the 7th century AD, with the initial center of propagation focused in the Arab region.
Subsequently, Islam quickly expanded to various regions, gradually evolving into a global religion with widespread influence.
However, as Islam spread, internal conflicts and external interference created significant challenges in its development, leading to serious divisions within the religion.
Despite these obstacles, Islam continues to hold an important place in the global religious landscape, not only attracting a large number of followers in many countries but also making profound contributions to fields such as medicine, culture, and philosophy.
Initially, Islam was confined to specific ethnic groups, but as it spread globally, the composition of its followers became more diverse, bringing greater cultural variety.
As Islam developed, different countries around the world held varying attitudes toward it, and the diversity and complexity of Muslim communities gradually became more apparent.
As early as the early 14th century, Muslim immigrants began to enter North America.
However, at that time, Christianity was the dominant religion in Western society, and Muslims faced significant cultural conflicts and religious pressures.
Being in a disadvantaged position, many Muslims were forced to change their religious beliefs to adapt to the local society, converting from Islam to Christianity.
Nevertheless, some persisted in their faith and practiced their religion in secret.
As the number of Muslim immigrants grew, their religious activities became more open, and their presence expanded.
The growth of Muslim communities led to their struggle for civil rights. Although the United States promotes freedom and equality, discrimination and injustice against Muslims and other minority groups have never ceased.
Muslims in the U.S. not only face daily life challenges but also have to deal with political and social biases.
Particularly with the tense relations between the U.S. and the Middle East, Muslim immigrants have become targets of suspicion and distrust within the U.S.
Although they represent a significant portion of the U.S. population, they are still seen as "outsiders."
In recent years, data has shown that the Muslim population in the U.S. is rapidly growing, and it may become the country's second-largest religious group in the future.
Against the backdrop of political competition, the Muslim vote has become increasingly important, especially during elections, where candidates may even use policies like the "Muslim ban" to win voter support.
For the Democratic Party, the influence of Muslim voters is gradually increasing, which is also raising the political status of Muslims in the U.S.
In contrast to Western countries, when Islam was introduced to China, it integrated with the local culture, gradually forming a uniquely Chinese version of Islam.
Islam was introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty, when Confucianism was the dominant ideology.
Foreign cultures did not clash violently with local traditions but instead gradually achieved harmonious integration.
This process of cultural fusion developed over several dynasties, localizing Islam in China and making it an important part of Chinese culture.
China's unique ability to embrace different cultures allows it to absorb foreign traditions in local forms, enabling them to coexist and grow together with indigenous cultures.
Experts have noted that many Islamic scholars in history received Confucian education, and while transmitting Islamic teachings, they also adopted Confucian ideas, emphasizing moral cultivation, which eventually led to the unique cultural feature of "Islam-Confucian integration."
Additionally, China has always adhered to policies of respecting all ethnic groups and religions, allowing Islam to flourish steadily within the country.
This inclusiveness has enabled China to maintain friendly relations with Muslims and Islamic countries worldwide.
Political, economic, and cultural cooperation further promotes the friendly development of relations with Muslim nations.
Although Western countries claim to champion freedom and democracy, they often apply double standards in handling Muslim issues, even exhibiting "Islamophobia."
In contrast, China has successfully maintained harmonious relations with Muslims and Muslim nations through respect and inclusivity.
This approach is worth contemplating, reflecting China's long-standing principle of equality and mutual respect when dealing with ethnic and religious matters.
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