In the western part of the Canton Orchid Garden, within a separate, tranquil park area, lies a site of profound historical and spiritual significance—the Tomb (gunbei) of Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, one of the most revered companions of the Prophet Muhammad. This place serves as a bridge connecting 7th-century Arabia with southern China and bears witness to the ancient roots of Islam in China.
Personality and Era: A World in Transition
Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas (595–674 CE) lived during an era of monumental transformation. In his lifetime:
In the World: Islam was spreading rapidly from Arabia. Sa`d was one of the Ten Promised Paradise (al-ʿashara al-mubashshara), a nephew of the Prophet`s mother, Aminah, and a key military commander. He led Muslim forces in the decisive Battle of al-Qadisiyyah (637 CE), which led to the fall of the Sassanian Empire in Persia.
In China: The mighty Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) ruled—a period considered the golden age of Chinese culture, science, and openness to the world. The imperial court in Chang`an (Xi`an) was a cosmopolitan center that welcomed foreign merchants, thinkers, and religious figures. It was during this era, around 651 CE according to ancient Chinese chronicles, that an embassy from the Arab Caliphate reached the court of Emperor Gaozong, which is considered the official "arrival" of Islam in China.
Why is he Venerated by Chinese Muslims?
The veneration of Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas in China is based on a persistent tradition (though disputed by some historians) that holds he was the emissary who brought Islam to China. Legends claim that Sa`d visited Canton (Guangzhou) via the maritime Silk Road, built the first mosque (a predecessor to the famous Huaisheng Mosque), and preached the teachings.
Thus, he is perceived as the "founding father" of Chinese Islam, the sahib who personally laid its foundations. His Tomb is an object of pilgrimage (ziyarat) and a symbol of the legitimacy and antiquity of the Islamic community in China.
It is important to note that mainstream historical scholarship does not confirm that Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas is buried in Guangzhou. His Tomb there is an object of local veneration and religious tradition, deeply respected by Chinese Muslims but lacking documented confirmation in early Islamic sources.
The Park Area and Mausoleum Architecture
The park area containing the Tomb is a long, narrow strip of greenery running parallel to the Orchid Garden. It can be entered from both the south and the north, making it a natural connective element in the urban landscape.
The tomb itself is a classic example of late Chinese Islamic architecture, synthesizing Muslim canons with local building traditions. It is a rectangular structure under a double-eaved roof covered with tiles. Inside, beneath a carved wooden cenotaph, lies a sarcophagus. The style is austere, restrained, and harmoniously integrated into the surrounding park, resembling a pavilion for contemplation more than a monumental tomb.
Xianxian Mosque (Xianxian Si): A Humble Place of Prayer
South of the tomb stands the small Xianxian Mosque (Mosque of the "Manifested Immortals" or "Ancestors"). It is important not to confuse it with the ancient Huaisheng Mosque with its famous Guangta Minaret. The Xianxian Mosque is an example of a completely different, intimate, and utilitarian architecture.
• Appearance: It is very modest, without any monumental features. It is a simple, single-story building with grey walls, red columns, and a tiled roof.
• Absence of a Minaret: The mosque lacks a traditional minaret for the call to prayer (adhan). This emphasizes its local, communal character.
• Function: Its sole purpose is to serve as a prayer hall (mihrab) for pilgrims visiting the mausoleum and for local Muslims. The interior is ascetic: prayer carpets, an indication of the direction of the Qibla (Mecca), and minimalistic Arabic calligraphic inscriptions.
The complex of the Tomb of Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas and the Xianxian Mosque forms a unique historical and spiritual nucleus. This is a place where the memory of the Prophet`s companion, the legendary emissary, lives on in the quiet of the park and within the humble walls of the prayer hall, continuing to serve as a focal point for Muslims in China.
