The Muslim community in Vietnam has a protracted and diverse history, dating back to the seventh century. Although the vast majority of Vietnam’s population is Buddhist, Muslims have played an integral role in shaping the country’s cultural and social fabric. In this text we’ll have a look at the history of the Muslim community in Vietnam.
The oldest records of Islam in Vietnam date back to the seventh century, when Arab traders visited the region.
The origins of Muslim penetration into Vietnam date back to the early seventh century, when Arab traders from the Middle East, India, and China began to determine trade contacts with the Champa kingdom, a Hindu and Buddhist civilization that occupied central and southern Vietnam. The Chams were sailors who were famous for his or her maritime trade and skill in navigating the seas.
As the Champa kingdom began to expand its trade network, it got here into contact with Arab traders who introduced Islam to the Chams. According to some accounts, the primary Muslim to return to Champa was Said Ibn Abi Waqqas, certainly one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. Ibn Abi Waqqas is alleged to have arrived in Champa in 618 AD, although some scholars dispute this claim.
Over time, Islam spread among the many Chams, who established mosques and Islamic schools throughout the dominion. The Cham adopted Islam for quite a lot of reasons, including economic advantages and perceived superiority over the indigenous religions of Vietnam.
The Kingdom of Champa was finally conquered by the Vietnamese within the late fifteenth century, and plenty of Cham Muslims were assimilated into Vietnamese society. However, the legacy of Islam in Vietnam continued, with many Vietnamese adopting the faith, and recent Muslim communities formed within the country.
Muslim influence in Vietnam may be seen within the country’s architecture, cuisine, and cultural practices. For example, many Vietnamese dishes similar to banh mi and pho are inspired by Islamic cuisine. Additionally, many Vietnamese mosques contain elements of traditional Cham architecture similar to red brick and terracotta tiles.
Today, the Muslim community in Vietnam is a various and vibrant community actively engaged in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding. Although the roots of Islam in Vietnam may be traced back to the early seventh century, the faith continues to evolve and adapt to the country’s changing cultural and political landscape.
In the seventeenth and 18th centuries, Vietnam was ruled by the Nguyen dynasty. The Nguyen rulers were initially hostile to Islam and persecuted the country’s Muslims. However, as trade relations with the Muslim world developed, the Nguyen dynasty began to tolerate the presence of Muslims in Vietnam.
In the late nineteenth century, French colonial rule brought a brand new wave of Muslims to Vietnam. Many Muslim soldiers from Algeria and Tunisia were sent to Vietnam to fight within the French army. These soldiers settled in Vietnam and established communities in cities similar to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
During the Vietnam War, the Muslim community played an lively role in supporting the North Vietnamese government. Muslim soldiers fought alongside their Vietnamese counterparts, and Muslim charities provided aid to civilians.
According to the April 1999 census, there have been 63,146 Muslims in Vietnam, of whom over 77% lived within the South Central Coast region. The majority of this population lived within the provinces of Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, and Ho Chi Minh City, with an extra 22% living within the Mekong Delta region, mainly in An Giang Province. Only 1% of Muslims lived in other regions of the country. This represents a major change from earlier reports which indicated that just about half of the Muslim population lived within the Mekong Delta before 1975, and the Muslim community in Ho Chi Minh City alone was reported to have numbered almost 10,000 as recently as 1985.
Despite discrimination and marginalization up to now, Vietnamese Muslims have made significant contributions to the country’s cultural and economic development. Muslim entrepreneurs have founded successful firms in Vietnam, and the community has played a crucial role in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding.
In recent years, the Vietnamese government has taken steps to advertise religious freedom and tolerance within the country. In 2016, the federal government passed a brand new law on belief and religion that goals to guard the rights of spiritual groups in Vietnam.
However, challenges still face the Muslim community in Vietnam. Some Muslims proceed to face discrimination and harassment. There have also been reports of presidency surveillance of Muslim communities.
Despite these challenges, the Muslim community in Vietnam stays resilient and committed to promoting peace and understanding within the country. As Vietnam continues to grow and develop, the Muslim community will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the country’s future.
Bibliography:
- Huynh, K. T. (2011). Muslims in Vietnam: a minority facing an integration and identity crisis. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 31(4), 513-525.
- Fisher, S. (2006). Muslims in Vietnam: A review of the most recent research. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 37(2), 267–278.
- Thayer, C. A. (2015). Muslims in Vietnam: A Demographic Overview. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 37(3), 357-380.
- “Vietnam” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
