In awe of one of the world’s oldest mosques

One of the world’s oldest mosques, the historic Huaisheng Mosque, also referred  to as the Great Mosque of Canton, in the Peoples Republic of China, is a top attractions, as well as being significant to Islamic culture. During the visit to the largest city in South Central China, which is also a major national transportation […]

One of the world’s oldest mosques, the historic Huaisheng Mosque, also referred  to as the Great Mosque of Canton, in the Peoples Republic of China, is a top attractions, as well as being significant to Islamic culture. During the visit to the largest city in South Central China, which is also a major national transportation hub  and trading centre, Daily Trust discovered that Guangzhou boasts of numerous exciting tourist spots. Some are the White Cloud Mountain, South China Botanical Garden,  Shamian Island, Canton Tower and a host of others.
Huaisheng is translated to mean ‘remembering the sage’. This great mosque was noted to have been  so-named in  honour  of  Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his teachings.
Interestingly, the Huaisheng mosque bears the hallmark of Islam’s long and riveting  history in China. It is believed to have been  constructed  in 627AD  during the Tang Dynasty by an uncle of Prophet  Muhammad (SAW), Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, noted  to have gone  on  his first Islamic mission to China in the 620s.
Invariably, the mosque located on Guangta Road, is over 1,380 years old. So for a Muslim visitor, the lure of exploring  the mosque becomes irresistible. It is  even more compelling  on a Friday, when a number of visiting Muslims from different parts of the world observe the weekly Jumma’at prayer there. To some  faithfuls, who were also there for the first time, the visit was fulfilling.  Those who commented  were  unanimous in their veneration of the mosque. “It  did not just  impress me  as a distinguished place of worship, but also  enthralled me as a great  attraction,” Ali Muhammad, one of them, asserted.
In the various sections of the mosque, there is a variance of grandeur which speaks volumes. Standing on an area of 2,966 square meters, the mosque showcases among others, the Prayer Hall, the Moon Tower, the Lighthouse Tower (or minaret), and the Covered Corridor, which is part of its charm. It is a distinctive building within the mosque premises.
Standing at an impressive 36 meters and once the tallest structure in the city, that fact quickly gave rise to its other name – the Lighthouse  Mosque. It was learnt that the mosque doubled as a lighthouse of sorts, as the minaret was used as a guide post  for ships passing through  Zhujiang River, and that oftentimes, sailors go up the tower to note the weather conditions.
The moon tower, is also remarkable. It was gathered that the  tower is used to observe the moon to determine the time for Ramadan fast to commence.
Another striking  feature within the mosque  is an ancient well, reportedly sunk from the mouth of a natural spring. A notable thing about this ages-old source of water is that it never dries up, according to oral history. The water is also noted to be crystal clear, and  clean. On it is the following inscription: ‘Fountain of life.’
The clean and well-kept religious structure parades  a number of thriving trees which adorn the mosque with sublime scenery, just as entwined solid staircases provide for easy ingress to the balcony. On the walls of the corridor are historic relics and the display in this  foyer area, which includes ancient pictures of the mosque with insightful  inscriptions, expounds on the mosque’s rich history.
The date of the inscription on one  of the pictures on display is 1820 and it reads: “An unusual view dedicated to one of the landmarks of the old city of Canton. Erected near the beginning of the Tang dynasty and rebuilt in the 15th century, it was known to Chinese as the ‘Smooth’ (or Unadorned) Pagoda, and to westerners as the ‘Mohammedan tower’. In the early 19th century, the Moslem population numbered about 3,000. The mosque included a school in which children were taught to read the Qur’an in Arabic.”
Another inscription had this: “The Mohammedan Pagoda, originally built during the Tang dynasty, was one of the earliest Islamic sites in China.” Yet another  traces the history of settlement at Huaisheng, stated in part: “With  rapid development of trade in the early Kaiyuan Reign in the Tang Dynasty, there was a special community for resident aliens called “Fanfang” (the resident aliens community) where many Arabs, Persians and Indians resided with centres in Huaisheng temple.”
Another visiting Muslim, Aisha Ismael, remarked:”The remarkable history and lustre of this legendary structure, are instructive. I remain amazed by the splendour of the mosque.”
Indeed, this giant of ancient times, which has gone through reconstruction over the years, remains revered, by Chinese nationals and visitors from around the globe. For this writer, even though it was a very long journey  from Nigeria to China, with a total flight time of 12 hours, it  was a memorable holiday treat: Inspiring and instructive.