Why do I believe in Islam?

Islam, the fastest growing religion in the world, is gradually changing people's mindsets into two opposite trends. One is afraid that Islam as a potential threat is going to destroy the modern society and civilization while other is inclined to accept Islam as a guidance and an inspiration in their lifetime. For me, Islam is a system which leads me to a suitable path. Maybe for some people, they do not need an invisible source as a pillar for protecting and calming their soul and body when they are in difficulties. However, for me, my mind is not stronger than those people who always believe themselves as independent entities. 

齋戒時是否需要誦讀更多【古蘭經】？

指引信仰者正道的【古蘭經】，是ㄧ本必須一直閱讀與思考的書。就像空氣、水及麵包般必須。「先知」終其ㄧ生都致力於喚起人們對【古蘭經】的關注。他經常背誦，也讓他的社群背誦，而他會留意傾聽他們背誦。他常常花特別多的心思去誦讀，尤其是當他齋戒時。故信仰者應該追隨「先知」的這個典範，花時間誦讀【古蘭經】，並在拉瑪丹月期間研讀，以領受其光輝的啓發。在拉瑪丹月誦讀【古蘭經】的重要性經常被強調。真主的「使者」在拉瑪丹研讀【古蘭經】的時間就比其他任何時間多。他往往研讀並仔細思考，因為這是真主降示【古蘭經】的月份。在拉瑪丹的每天晚上，真主的「使者」都會與Jibrail天使ㄧ起誦讀【古蘭經】。他們在每年的拉瑪丹月都會相互誦讀給彼此聽，從該月的第一天到最後ㄧ天，天天如此。而在「先知」去世前不久，他們即曾完整地誦讀完兩次【古蘭經】。伊本 阿拔斯對這件事做了以下敘述：「真主的『使者』是所有人類中最慈愛的。當Jibrail在拉瑪丹月的每天晚上為了和他ㄧ起誦讀神聖【古蘭經】而來與他相見時，他的仁慈更是顯著地增加。真主的『使者』比來去無踪、帶來即時雨的風更仁慈寬厚。」


摘錄自 阿里 布達克(Aki Budak)，楊晶文與黃思恩（譯），【齋戒指南-伊斯蘭的拉瑪丹】，(台北市：希泉出版社，2006年9月)，頁67-68。

齋戒月(Ramadan): ㄧ個自我省思的月份

The month of fasting is a place of exile from illusion and fashion and a pilgrimage deep into one’s self

By Tariq Ramadan | Special to Gulf News

Published: 00:00 July 10, 2012

伊斯蘭的齋戒月（Ramadan）即將到來，今日(7/19)晚上是看新月的時刻，如果在太陽下山之後，西邊看到新月，代表隔天將正式進入齋戒月。齋戒月是伊斯蘭最重要的月份，為期30天，穆斯林在太陽升起到落下這段期間禁止飲食。齋戒的結束也是以看到下ㄧ個新月而終止。

齋戒月是伊斯蘭曆的9月，這個月同時是最早古蘭經的經文被頒降的月份。凡是成年的穆斯林，若無生病、旅行或是其他特殊條件，都必須履行齋戒的義務。下面正好是ㄧ位Ramadan教授的文章，介紹齋戒月(Ramadan)對穆斯林的意涵。以下將摘要部份內容，提供對齋戒月不太熟悉的網友們參閱。

「齋戒月是ㄧ種信仰、精神、意識、施捨、團結、正義與尊嚴等訓練。這個月是穆斯林自我反省的月份，並深切理解齋戒月對我們的意義。齋戒教導我們每個人反思與反省過去犯下的缺失。除了白天禁止飲食之外，齋戒同時可以檢驗我們自己，使自己更為謙卑並有重新出發與再生的機會。

齋戒月另外使我們反思現代社會過度消費的現象，在這個月份，齋戒使我們思考何謂是真正的自由？」

The month of Ramadan is at hand and with it, Muslims will be entering into one of the finest and most beautiful schools of life. The fasting month is a school of faith, spirituality, awareness, giving, solidarity, justice, dignity and unity. Nothing less. It is the month when introspection among Muslims should be deepest; the month of their greatest contribution to humanity. The month of Ramadan is the world’s most widespread fast and yet its teachings are minimised, neglected and even betrayed (through literal application of rules that overlooks their ultimate objective).