Islam was introduced into China since 651 AD and has since been developed. It is now spread among ten minorities such as Hui, Uygur, Uzbek, Kirgiz, Tatar, Tajik, Salar, Dongxiang and Bonan, who are called under a general name 'Moslem', the population of which has reached above 17 million.
The history of Shanghai Moslem initiated in Songjiang County, where Moslems from western territories resided in 1275 AD.
During 1341 to 1347, Moslems living in Songjiang established the first mosque (Songjiang Mosque) and their special tombs in the western part of Shanghai appeared at that time.
In 1843, when Shanghai opened port to and started business with the outside, Moslems in Shanghai, centered on Fuyou Road Mosque began participating in the economic and cultural constructions of the city.
The year 1909 saw the establishment of the first Moslem society--Shanghai Islamic Board of Directors and in 1925, academic and cultural organizations of Moslems appeared including China Hui Association and some societies for youth, women and charity. In 1962, the Society of Shanghai Islam was founded and now it has more than 50,000 members (nine minorities included).
The religions, believes and habits of Shanghai Moslems are respected. They can keep their own holidays (such as the Festival of Fast-breaking and Corban), habits of marriage, funeral, culinary, dining and antiques.
Moslems have their own animal and poultry slaughterhouse as well as candies or food processing factories, along with special schools, kindergartens and public cemeteries. The education and daily lives of them are taken care of by the government. Shanghai now has six mosques open to public and one mosque for women only.
The Shanghai Society of Islam, in its 30 years of history has acted as bridge between government and Islamics and has contributed to the economic construction, stabilities of society and the unity of minorities with majorities as well as international exchange with other religious groups from foreign countries.
Since 1982, the society has organized four Islam courses, training 20 members and in 1992, it edited and published 'The history of Shanghai Islam' and in 1995, 'Shanghai Religions, Islam Chapter'. It also publishes its own newsletter 'Shanghai Moslem', which pushes the development of the religion in Shanghai up one gear.
