Cohesion and cleavage: An examination of the sense of belonging of Muslim migrants in Northwest China

This article investigates the internal dynamics of Hui Fang Jamaat and the diverse groups of Muslims within it. Rather than simply suggesting the importance of religious and geographical differences in forging the Muslim migrant’s sense of belonging in their migratory life, we prefer to explore how these differences have been understood by migrants when interacted with others. Through presenting the nuanced experiences of and value judgements made by Muslim migrants, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of the experiences of Muslim migrants and to challenge preconceived notions by showcasing their diverse perspectives. It emphasizes that the sense of belonging is the process of an emotional positioning that Muslim migrants arrive at after continuously evaluating and weighing internal and external factors in their surrounding environment, for example the widely use and assessing of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. These transcend sectarian and regional differences and have an impact on how Muslim migrants have navigated their identities and experienced “a cluster of the sense of belonging” in this digital era.