Yihewani (Chinese:伊赫瓦尼;pinyin:Yīhèwǎní), orIkhwan (Arabic:الإخوان,romanized: al-Iḫwān), (also known asal-Ikhwan al-Muslimun, which meansMuslim Brotherhood, not to be confused with the Middle EasternMuslim Brotherhood, orAhl al-Sunni) is an Islamic sect in China. Its adherents are called Sunnaiti. It is of theHanafi school, one of the four majorschools of Sunni Islam. It is also referred to as "New Teaching" (Chinese:新教派;pinyin:Xinjiao pai) or "Latest Teaching" (Chinese:新新教;pinyin:Xinxinjiao). Yihewani, together withGedimu andXidaotang, make up the three major sects of Islam in China.[1][2] In 1937, it divided into two groups.[3]
At the end of the 19th century and after his return fromGansu, theDongxiang imamMa Wanfu (1849–1934) from the village ofGuoyuan [zh] inHezhou (now theDongxiang Autonomous County found inLinxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture) - who had studied in Mecca - founded the Yihewani movement with the "ten majorAhong" (Chinese:十大阿訇;pinyin:shi da ahong). He claimed that rites and ceremonies not standing in line with theQuran and theHadith should be abolished. He campaigned against grave andmurshid (leader / teacher) worship and advocated for preaching anddawah in Chinese.[4]
The follower of the sect radically opposedQadeem's tradition which was influenced by Chinese culture. They put emphasis on the principle of "following the book and eliminating customs". Though the founder of the movement was inspired by thesalafi movement, this reform movement, unlike that of theWahhabis, did not opposeSufism, but rather rejected the excessive veneration to Sufi masters and to their graves. They strictly followHanafi school offiqh and emphasize theAsh'ari andMaturidi creeds.[5]
In theDungan Revolt (1895) the Yihewani backed the rebels against theQing dynasty. However, the Muslim rebels were crushed by loyalist Muslims.
The Khafiya Sufi GeneralMa Anliang, especially hated the Yihewani leaderMa Wanfu, so much that when the Han generalYang Zengxin captured Ma Wanfu, Ma Anliang arranged to have him shipped to Gansu so he could execute him. As Qing authority broke down in China, theGedimu Sunnis andKhafiya Sufis went on a vicious campaign to murder Ma Wanfu and stamp out hisWahhabi inspired teachings.[6][7] The leaders of menhuans attacked Ma Wanfu, and the Gedimu requested that the Qing governor in Lanzhou inflict punishment upon Ma Wanfu.[8]
Eventually, under Imams likeHu Songshan, the Yihewani was transformed from an anti assimilationist, fundamentalist brotherhood, into a modernist, Chinese nationalist sect which was supported by the Chinese NationalistKuomintang party, promoting modern secular education and nationalism.[9][10]
The Yihewani was then backed by theMa Clique Muslim warlords, who were members of theChinese National People's Party (Kuomintang), which espousedChinese nationalism, and theThree Principles of the People. It was favored over the major Sufimenhuans such as the SufiJahriyya, SufiKhafiya. The Salafis were crushed by the Yihewani during this period.
The Yihewani was patronized and backed byMa Lin (warlord) andMa Bufang to help modernize society, education, and reform old traditions.[11]Menhuan members such asMa Hongbin,Ma Hongkui, andMa Fuxiang supported the Yihewani after they saw it being patronized by Ma Qi.[12]
Yihewani Imams reacted with hostility to Ma Debao and Ma Zhengqing, who attempted to introduce Salafism as the main form of Islam. They were branded as traitors, and Wahhabi teachings were deemed as heresy by the Yihewani leaders. Ma Debao established a Salafi order, called theSailaifengye (Salafi)menhuan inLanzhou andLinxia, and it is a completely separate sect than other Muslim sects in China.[13] Sunni Muslim Hui avoid Salafis, even if they are family members, and constantly fight them.[14]
TheKuomintang Sufi Muslim GeneralMa Bufang, who backed the Yihewani, persecuted the Salafi. The Yihewani forced the Salafis into hiding. They were not allowed to move or worship openly. The Yihewani had become modernist and Chinese nationalist, and they considered the Salafiyya to be "Heterodox" (xie jiao), and people who followed foreigner's teachings (waidao). Only after the Communists took over were the Salafis allowed to come out and worship openly.[15]
The Uyghur militant organizationEast Turkestan Islamic Movement's magazineIslamic Turkistan has accused the Chinese "Muslim Brotherhood" (the Yihewani) of being responsible for the moderation of Hui Muslims and the lack of Hui joining jihadist groups, among other reasons.[16][17]
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Notes: Acting leadersitalicised ; By-elections denoted with (b) | ||
