Choosing to Identify as Hui

by Dec 17, 2014Culture, History, Hui, Religion, Women0 comments

IMG_6612-1“What minzu (people group) are you?” As he stood in the identification card office, he was a taken back by the question. Normally you don’t choose your people group, this is determined at birth. This was the question asked to my friend’s parents back in the Cultural Revolution. They were part of the population who were sent to western provinces to learn from the farmers. “Hui,” he answered with a smile. Finally, he fully identified with his new found religion. Their Han heritage was no longer what they clung to. They were now Hui. He was so happy that not only did he identify as Muslim by dressing differently than other Han people but also by changing his identification card to confirm his new identity. 

Now years later, my friend shared with me how she, a Muslim woman, came to her own realization of her Muslim identity and began wearing a head covering. She takes classes at the mosque to study Arabic so that she can read the Quran. As a second generation Muslim, she knows what she believes and practices her religion. She is not like many other Hui who are merely cultural Hui. She is proud of her heritage and the answer her father gave.

Prayer Requests

  • Pray that God will break down the barrier that to be Hui means one must be Muslim.
  • Pray Hui will understand that following Jesus is more important than following the religion of their ancestors.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share this

Share this post with your friends!

Shares