The convergence of Ramadan and the Chinese New Year in 2026 is more than a calendrical coincidence—it is a reminder of a shared human story that stretches back over 1,300 years.
Emperor Hong-Wu ruled China from approximately 1368-1398. While not Muslim himself, he is said to have appointed some 10 Muslim generals as his guards and ordered the building of numerous mosques for the growing Chinese Muslim community.
Islam’s earliest footprints in China, the embrace of Muslim communities under the T’ang Dynasty, and even the reverence shown by Emperor Hong-Wu toward the Prophet Muhammad (sa) reveal a history of exchange, respect, and coexistence far deeper than most realize.
Ramadan teaches reflection and gratitude, and this piece of forgotten history offers both. It reminds us that the Islamic tradition has long lived alongside—and contributed to—the world’s great cultures. It reminds us that bridges existed before walls. And it reminds us that the story of Islam is not confined to the Middle East, but woven into the fabric of Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond.
As we enter this rare year when two great traditions begin together, may it inspire us to rediscover the beauty in each other, just as our ancestors once did.
