06/06/2026
How did the Huai Sheng Mosque get its name?
The Huai Sheng Mosque is widely regarded as the oldest mosque in China. According to tradition, it was established in 627 CE during the reign of the Tang Dynasty, around the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The mosque is also locally known as the Lighthouse Mosque or Tower Mosque because of its distinctive minaret, although Guangzhou is not immediately associated with the lighthouse function suggested by the name today.
The name "Huai Sheng" (怀圣) is commonly translated as "Cherishing the Sage" or "Remembering the Prophet," with "the Sage" referring to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
At the time, trade routes between Arabia and China had already been established for centuries. This was also the era in which the Prophet ﷺ sent letters inviting rulers and leaders to Islam.
There is no definitive historical evidence confirming who founded the mosque. However, local Islamic tradition holds that Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas travelled to China and established the mosque.
Today, the Huai Sheng Mosque remains one of the most important Islamic landmarks in China and a symbol of the long-standing relationship between Chinese and Muslim civilisations.
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