The leaders of a menhuan, which usually are Ṣūfī Muslim murs̲h̲id ("masters") or walī ("saints"), form a chain of spiritual successors over the ages, known in Arabic as silsilah, which goes back to the order's founder in China (e.g., Ma Laichi or Ma Mingxin), and beyond, toward his teachers in Arabia.
[1] The term menhuan itself is of comparatively recent origin: according to Ma Tong (1983), it was first attested in an essay by the Hezhou Prefecture Magistrate Yang Zengxin dated 1897.
[2] Among those that are part of a menhuan, specific rules and rituals play a large role in their religious devotion.
As is found in other Muslim communities, menhuan followers have a high regard for the Quran and ḥadīth literature, along with commonly practicing the Five Pillars of Islam.
[2] Constructing gongbei where the performances of homage to their Ṣūfī order and leaders can take place are important in menhuan groups.