China to produce first textbooks on Islam
Regional, Religion, 6/28/1999

China plans to compile a series of textbooks to help the country's estimated 20 million Muslims improve understanding of Islam which has existed in the country for 1,300 years, the Chinese News Agency (XINHUA) reported on Sunday.

The Chinese Language books will explain the Koran, instructions and Doctrines of Islam in accordance with contemporary Chinese Views on the religion, XINHUA quoted Khalid Yang Zongshan, Vice-President of the China Islamic college and Director of the project, as saying.

He noted that the compilation will require at least five years. Islamic colleges, religious associations and various other institutes nationwide will participate, he added.

The central Government fully supports the effort, according to Li Ge, an official at the state council's religious bureau.

"The Government will provide funding and personnel for the project," said li.

The Chinese often find the Koran difficult to understand and some people fail to fully understand what they are reading. "Young believers need access to thorough and systematic illustrations and analyses," said Huang Xinman, 26, a former Imam currently studying at the China Islamic college.

He said the textbooks will provide explanations of the surats (verses) in line with modern development.

Haji Shamsiddin Mahmud, Vice President of the China Islamic Association pointed out that the textbooks will be used in colleges and mosques.

According to the China Islamic Association, China has restored 30,000 mosques since the end of the cultural revolution, but a large majority of the 40,000 Imams in the country have only primary or at best secondary school education.

China has nine Islamic colleges and voluminous research books on the religion, providing a base for the compilation project.

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