Shi Mu Masjid and the legend of the non-Muslim pork butcher buried with 40 Sages of Islam

[metanoia]

The legend of the non-Muslim pork butcher buried with 40 Sages of Islam is associated with the Tomb of the Forty Sages (also known as the Shi Mu Masjid or Huaisheng Mosque) in Guangzhou, China. The name 時母 (Shi Mu), provided in Chinese characters, likely refers to this specific historical site and legend.

The Legend of the 41 Tombs
According to local legend in Guangzhou, around 1,300 years ago during the Tang Dynasty, 40 Islamic sages (companions of the Prophet Muhammad) were sent to China to spread the teachings of Islam. They lived and preached in the area, and more local people began to convert to Islam, which led to a decline in the local pork business.

A local non-Muslim pork butcher, whose business was suffering, became angry and planned to kill the sages. He knew that when Muslims prayed, they would not move, so he took advantage of this to attack and kill all 40 sages during their prayers.

After the act, the butcher was immediately filled with intense guilt and remorse upon witnessing their devotion. Overwhelmed by his actions, he committed suicide. In an unusual turn of events, the local community, recognizing his profound regret and the sincerity of his final act, chose to bury him alongside the 40 sages, making a total of 41 tombs. The story is now part of the history of the site.

Meaning of 時母 (Shi Mu)

The Chinese characters 時母 (Shi Mu) in this context are likely a transcription of the name of the mosque or the tombs.

• 時 (Shí) generally means "time" or "period".
• 母 (Mǔ) generally means "mother".

It is possible that "Shi Mu" is an old or localized transliteration of an Arabic or foreign name associated with the site, rather than having a direct literal meaning in Chinese related to the story. The full name of the mosque is the Huaisheng Mosque (怀圣寺), and the tombs are referred to as the "Tomb of the Forty Sages" (四十位先贤墓). The term 'Shi Mu' (时毋 or 寺) may have been used as a colloquial name for the mosque (寺, sì, meaning "temple" or "mosque") or the specific burial site within the complex.

 

[syed putra]

Pork eating chinese are irrational, annoying and susceptible to going amok.