Tales of Hotan: Tradition, religion and innovation (3)

Religion: balance between celestial and terrestrial

Abdurusul observes a religious ritual at Ujmilik Mosque in Hotan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Kou Jie)

Under the dazzling Hotan sun, the green dome of Ujmilik Mosque swirled and reverberated with the murmurs of prayers. In a small room concealed behind a wooden altar, Abdurusul Shemshidin, who just finished his shift as a taxi driver, quietly changes his clothes to prepare to host a religious ritual. Serving as the mosque's Imam for over four years, he can now switch easily between his celestial and terrestrial identities.

Born into a Muslim family, 50-year-old Abdurusul is an expert in Islam. Ujmilik Mosque has over 150 frequent visitors, who voted for him to become their Imam. Religious figures in Hotan, like Abdurusul, often have several loyalties to different identities, the human equivalent of Hotan's layers of dust and stone. Some of them are farmers, some construction workers, and others are merchants. For Abdurusul, his terrestrial occupation is a taxi driver.

"Our religion teaches us that living in the moment is very important. Only a happy and affluent person can provide help to others, and that's what I have been doing – to live a better life while following my religion," said Abdurusul.

"Believing in goodness has made me a better person, while living a better life has helped me believe in goodness," he noted.

Abdurusul's biggest pride is his son, who is now studying law in Xinjiang Science and Information Vocational College. He believes that as a modern Muslim, it is important to learn about sciences, law and society, as well as balancing celestial and terrestrial life.

"Religion is only a part of my life. I have many other priorities in my life, such as family and work. It is not hard to find a balance between my religious duties and daily life, as they are closely connected," he added.

78-year-old Kadir Yusup is a frequent visitor of the Ujmilik Mosque. (People's Daily Online/Kou Jie)

78-year-old Kadir Yusup has been praying in the Ujmilik Mosque for over two decades. His apartment is three kilometres from the mosque. Every day after sending his grandson to school, he likes to take a bus to visit the mosque so that he can spend some quality time with other Muslim friends.

"The mosque has changed significantly over the past 20 years. Everything is new. This is the nearest mosque to my apartment, and it has become my daily routine to come here and talk with my friends," said Kadir.

"Muslims and non-Muslims should not discriminate against each other and should live in harmony, while people of different backgrounds should help each other. This is what a good life looks like to me," said Kadir.