Across China: Chinese imam uses modern issues, Mandarin to reach believers

Though imam Ma Jun follows the traditions and teachings of a 1,400-year-old faith, he's not afraid to preach about current events to reach a new generation of young Chinese Muslims.

A worship leader at Xinguan Mosque in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, Ma has spent the last month leading prayers for Ramadan. The Muslim holy month lasted from June 18 to July 17 this year.

"As believers, we should be grateful in prosperity and tenacious in times of adversity. Have a peaceful heart in life," he told about 700 Muslims during Wa'z, or the preaching of sermons, on Friday.

The 43-year-old imam is called "ahong" in Chinese, a term that derives from the Persian word "akhund," meaning "the learned."

"During Ramadan, we see more Muslims come to Mosque. It's a good occasion to preach and guide their lives. I help them solve problems through Islam and tell them what Islam is," Ma said.

A law graduate from the Islamic University of al-Madinah in Saudi Arabia, Ma has earned a reputation as a modern imam within his religious community.

"When we watch the news, we see many reports on the Belt and Road," he said, referring to China's proposed trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. "I cite the initiative in my preaching, explaining to my people that our beliefs date back thousands of years and that they are closely connected with modern society," Ma said in a sit-down interview with Xinhua.

"There are many Muslim countries on the Silk Road Economic Belt, along which our prophets and ancestors left their footprints," he said.

During Jumah, a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, Ma delivers Wa'z. Unlike most imams in Lanzhou, who preach in the local dialect, Ma gives sermons in a mixture of Arabic and Mandarin Chinese.

"I did meet opposition when I started to deliver Wa'z in Mandarin, but I insist on it in preaching. I should integrate what I see and hear in daily life with Islamic scripture. Besides, in a modern country, which has a huge moving population, Wa'z in Mandarin can reach more people," he said.

On Fridays, Ma gets up at three in the morning and prepares himself for three prayers during early morning, noon and night.

During Ramadan, Ma Jun cannot leave the mosque. In addition to preaching and leading worship, he spends time in his office praying, studying scripture and making notes for sermons.

"Our great prophet said we must love the place where we were born. In modern society, it means we should be good citizens. We should love every blade of grass and tree on our land," he said while preaching on July 10.

"Our Prophet talked about how you have to employ good intentions and viable means if you want to change society. In the precious moments of Ramadan, I advise you to be good Muslims and good citizens," Ma told his congregation.

"I like this imam. He cites up-to-date things when preaching. I've come to understand the Koran better through his preaching," said Zhang Yang, a 12-year-old boy. He has been attending the mosque since Ma arrived in 2012.

When a catastrophic earthquake hit China on May 12, 2008, Ma called on his followers to help one another, citing brotherhood as an important value in Muslim scriptures.

In June, when a ship capsized on the Yangtze River, killing hundreds, Ma's preaching centered on how to face death. "Even though we are thousands of miles away, the sorrow on the riverbank can be felt in our hearts. We must remember: life is to be held dear, and not to be wasted," he said. Endi