Amir Fatir

The provided text details the history and presence of Islam in Taiwan, primarily focusing on the migration patterns and the Muslim community's development. It outlines four waves of migration, starting as early as the 17th century with soldiers and merchants from mainland China, and continuing through the 20th century with refugees from the Chinese Civil War and later, migrant workers. The text notes that while early Muslim settlers often assimilated into Taiwanese society and their religious practices waned, subsequent migrations established a more visible Muslim presence. It highlights the establishment of mosques, the demographic breakdown of the Muslim population, and the integration of foreign Muslim workers. The narrative also touches upon the assimilation challenges and eventual fading of Islam among some early migrant descendants, contrasting it with the sustained practice of later arrivals.

Islam is believed to have first arrived in Taiwan during the 17th century, with early settlers originating from the Fujian province of China. These migrants, often soldiers accompanying Koxinga in 1661, brought their families and established communities. Historical accounts suggest Admiral Zheng He may have introduced Islam even earlier, in the 15th century. These early Muslims built mosques, though many no longer exist, and their descendants gradually assimilated into the broader Taiwanese culture, often adopting local customs and religions. By the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), the practice of Islam had significantly diminished, with the government discouraging foreign religions. Despite efforts by the Chinese Muslim Association to revive the faith among descendants of the first wave, many no longer actively practice Islam.

A significant second wave of Muslim migration occurred in 1949, with approximately 20,000 Muslim families fleeing mainland China during the Chinese Civil War, many of whom were soldiers and government employees from regions with strong Islamic traditions. This influx led to the establishment of key institutions, including Taiwan's first mosque, the Taipei Grand Mosque, founded in 1947. The subsequent decades saw the creation of more mosques in major cities. During the 1950s, initial limited contact between Muslims and the Han Chinese gradually increased as the likelihood of returning to mainland China diminished. A notable group of Muslim soldiers evacuated from Burma in the 1950s also established the Longgang Mosque, contributing to the growing Muslim community.

From the 1980s onwards, Taiwan experienced a third and fourth wave of Muslim migration. The third wave consisted of thousands of Muslims from Myanmar and Thailand, descendants of nationalist soldiers. The fourth wave, beginning in 1989, saw a large influx of migrant workers from Muslim-majority countries in South and Southeast Asia to fill blue-collar jobs. Currently, Taiwan's Muslim population numbers around 60,000, with a significant portion being foreign workers, primarily from Indonesia and Malaysia. Additionally, many Taiwanese Muslims today are recent converts, often women who have married Muslim men from mainland China. While differences in practice exist among various Muslim groups, they generally coexist with mutual curiosity rather than conflict.