Mosque Name: Xian Great Mosque
Country: China
City: Guangzhou
Year of construction (AH): 8
Year of construction (AD): 629 (742)
GPS: 23.148262 23.148262
Archnet: https://www.archnet.org/sites/3973
Gibson Classification: Petra
Rebuilt facing Mecca: Never
Description
The original simple mosque on this site was built in 629 during the Tang Dynasty by the first Muslim immigrants to China. According to the Geography of China: Sacred and Historic Places By Britannica Educational Publishing, pg. 181–182, Kenneth Pletcher claims the date of the mosque is 742. However, the Archnet site claims the current mosque was constructed in 1398 CE. Beside the mosque is the Hui-hui cemetery that honors the 40 famous Arabic Muslim missionaries who are buried there. Over the years, the mosque was enlarged but from the qibla directino of the graves it appears that the qibla direction was never changed.
The mosque was built with Ming Dynasty architecture style and covers an area of 1,860 m2 including the 1,077 m2 of constructed area. It consists of prayer hall, pavilion, wing rooms and other facilities. The prayer hall is a two-story building capable of accommodating 3,000 worshippers.
The mosque interior is styled like a garden with many trees and flowers. These are actually inside the mosque.
The story of Abu Waqqas and the 40 emigrants that travelled to China during the lifetime of Muhammad is told on pages 216 - 221 in the book: Let The Stones Speak. This book in pdf format can be downloaded here for free by clicking here.
This story was originally introduced on the nabataea.net website at: https://nabataea.net/cinema/qiblastory/qibla-story-3-the-china-factor/
The entrance to the Xian Mosque
The entrance to the grave of Abu Waqqas
A plaque at the mosque mentioning a well.
Sign pointing to the Tomb of Abu Waqqas
Plaque at the mosque
The tombs of some of the 40 who came with Abuu Waqqas
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