ラマダンとは何か? イスラム教徒の断食、その歴史、期間、あいさつの言葉、そしてルール

イスラム教徒が断食を行う約1カ月間を「ラマダン」という。
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Indian Muslim devotees offer Eid prayers during the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival at the Quli Qutubshahi Eidgah in Hyderabad on July 29, 2014. Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan during which followers are required to abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn to dusk. AFP PHOTO/NOAH SEELAM (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)
NOAH SEELAM via Getty Images

イスラム教徒が断食を行う約1カ月間を「ラマダン」という。この期間、日中の飲食を断ち、神の恵みに感謝する。ラマダンにはどんな歴史があるのか、どのような断食を行うのか、そして何の目的で行うのか……さまざまな疑問に答えよう。

ラマダンの期間はいつ?

太陰暦のサイクルは太陽暦と差があるため、ラマダンの日程は毎年約11日早まる。2015年の場合、アメリカではラマダンは6月18日に開始されるが、実際の開始日は新月が確認されてから決定される。

ラマダン明けには断食の終わりを祝う「イド・アル=フィトル」が行なわれる。この祭りは断食開始日から29か30日目に催される。イド・アル=フィトルは朝の祈祷に始まり、それから家族や友人の間で祝宴が行なわれる。

ラマダンの歴史は?

ラマダンとは、イスラム暦の9番目の月のことだ。ラマダンとはアラビア語で灼熱を意味する。西暦610年、力の夜と訳されることの多い「カドルの夜」にコーランが預言者ムハンマドに啓示されてから、ラマダンはイスラム教徒にとって聖なる月となった。

ラマダンの順守については、コーラン第2章185節でこう義務づけられている。

ラマダンの月こそは、人類の導きとして、また導きと(正邪の)識別の明証としてクルアーン(コーラン)が下された月である。それで、この月の新月を観測する者は、その月中、断食をしなければならない。病気の者、または旅路にある者は、後の日に、同じ日数を断食する。アッラーはあなたがたに易きを求め、困難を求めない。あなたがたが定められた期間を全うして、導きに対し、アッラーを讃えることを求める。恐らくあなたがたは感謝するであろう

断食の条件は?

ラマダン月のあいだ、ほとんどのイスラム教徒は日の出から日没まで食べ物と飲み物を断つ。多くのイスラム教徒は日の出前にスフールと呼ばれる食事をとる。日没には家族や友人が集まってイフタールと呼ばれる一日の断食の終わりの食事をとる。イフタールでは、多くのイスラム教徒はムハンマドにならってまずデーツ(ナツメヤシの実)から食べ始める。

サウムと呼ばれる断食の義務はイスラムの5つの柱のひとつで、食事、水分摂取、喫煙、性交渉を控えるよう要求するものだ。

ラマダンの断食の詳しい時間について知るには、 IslamiCityが提供するこの便利なツールをクリックしてほしい。あなたの住む街の名前やZIPコードを入力すると、日の出と日の入りの時刻やお祈りの時間を確かめることができる。

チャリティへの期待は?

チャリティはラマダンで重要な位置を占める。断食は自己犠牲や、空腹を経験して飢えた人への共感を育むことを重視する。ラマダン中、イスラム教徒のコミュニティは協力して貧しい人々への寄付を募り、衣類や食料を寄付し、また恵まれない人々にイフタールの夕食をごちそうする。

イスラム教徒はどのようなコーラン研究に参加しているか?

多くのイスラム教徒がラマダン中にコーランをすべて読み通したり毎日読んだりしている。多くのコミュニティでは、ラマダン明けのイド・アル=フィトルに読み終わるようにコーランを毎日少しずつ読み進める。

イスラム教徒以外も参加できる?

イスラム教徒以外もラマダンには自由に参加できる。多くの非イスラム教徒が家族や友人と一緒に断食をして、お祈りさえも共にする。非イスラム教徒がお祈りやイフタールの夕食に招かれることも多い。

ラマダーンで断食中の人に礼儀正しく接したければ、「ラマダン・ムバラク」または「ラマダン・カリーム」とあいさつしてもいい。これらは「よいラマダンを」という意味だ。

糖尿病のイスラム教徒も断食しなければならない?

アメリカ糖尿病協会は、糖尿病患者にラマダーンの断食を勧めていない。

13のイスラム国家でラマダン中に断食を行なった糖尿病患者12,243人を対象にした大規模な疫学的調査では、急性合併症の高い発生率が明らかになった

しかし調査では、これについて確証は得られていないという。多くの糖尿病患者が合併症を起こすことなく断食を終えている。断食をしようとする糖尿病患者は、医者と相談して方策を練るべきだ。

ラマダンの“目的”は?

一般に、ラマダンの実践はイスラムに背く考えと行いから自身を清める意味がある。世俗的な欲を捨てることで、神への献身と奉仕に没頭できる。多くのイスラム教徒が断食という行いによって、怒りや呪いや強欲などの堕落した考えや動機を振り払おうとする。

すべてのイスラム教徒がラマダンの断食をする?

ほとんどのイスラム教徒はラマダンを義務だと考えている。だが例外もある。妊婦または授乳中の母親、重病の者、旅行者、または健康リスクのある者は断食をしてはならない。貧困の中にいる子供も同様にラマダン中の断食はしなくてよいとされる。

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Filipino Muslims take part in prayers at the Golden Mosque in Manila on June 18, 2015 on the first day of Islam\'s holy month of Ramadan. More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will mark the holy month which begins this week. AFP PHOTO / Jay DIRECTO (Photo credit should read JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JAY DIRECTO via Getty Images)

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