祈禱書
Prayer Book
1926年，土耳其，紙、墨水、皮革裝訂
1926, Turkey, Paper, Ink, Leather binding
本展廳正在展示的是一件伊斯蘭教信仰者（穆斯林）常常會使用的實用祈禱書。這一類的著作和裝訂、書法、頁邊裝飾都十分精美的古蘭經抄本不同，通常是小開本、便於攜帶、利於隨時翻閱取用。
The book displayed is a prayer booklet that is used by Muslims for practical usages. Unlike Qur’anic book decoration and bindings, which are usually beautifully illustrated, written, and decorated on the page edges, this type of books is usually small, portable, and accessible.
祈禱書是用來做什麼呢？
What are the Prayer Books for?
在穆斯林看來，日常的五次禮拜是崇拜真主的最重要形式。在禮拜中，禮拜者需要背誦古蘭經的一些章節。每一個穆斯林，無論國籍、無論母語為何、無論生活在什麼樣的社會，都至少需要背誦古蘭經的「開端章」（al-Fatiha）和另外的兩、三個篇幅較短的章節。古蘭經的所有經文都是以阿拉伯文頒降給先知穆罕默德 ﷺ 的，因此為了完成穆斯林的日常功課，穆斯林需要學習和背誦這些基本的經文。
在這一類的祈禱書裡，就寫有篇幅較短，易於背誦的古蘭經短章，以及對一些經文的降世背景、經文要意、含義解釋的經註（Tafsir）。
除此之外，穆斯林在禮拜後，或是日常生活中的任何時候，都可以舉起雙手向神祈禱，其內容可以是祈求信仰上的堅定，或世俗生活中的種種事物、心願，或為自己的家人、朋友、亡故者祈禱。這一類祈禱詞，穆斯林將其稱作「دعاء」（音譯為 Du’a 或 篤阿、杜瓦）。
在這本來自土耳其一帶的祈禱書中，就列出了數則非常好的「篤阿」。穆斯林在禮拜時使用阿拉伯語，但是在禮拜之外做篤阿的時候，可以使用任何語言。但是在伊斯蘭傳統的傳承過程中，積累了許多優美的、著名的篤阿，或是直接源自於古蘭經的篤阿，虔誠的穆斯林也會將這些篤阿以阿拉伯文的形式背誦下來。因此，在我們展示的這本祈禱書中，就收錄了阿拉伯文形式記錄的篤阿，上面也有嚴謹的標音符號，目的是為了母語並非阿拉伯語的穆斯林方便學習和背誦。
For Muslims, the five daily prayers are the most important form of worship. During worship (salat), the worshipper is required to recite some verses of the Qur’an. Every Muslim, regardless of nationality, native language, is required to memorize at least the “The Opening” (al-Fatiha) of the Qur’an and two or three other short chapters. All the verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Arabic, therefore, in order to fulfil the daily duty as a Muslim, he or she needs to learn and recite these basic verses in Arabic.
In this type of prayer book, there are short chapters of the Qur’an that are easier to memorize, as well as Tafsir (exegesis) that explains the revelation context and meaning of verses.
Besides the motions of Salat (worship), Muslims can raise their hands to make wishes at any time to God, either for strengthen their faith or for various things or wishes of their worldly lives, and for their loved ones or deceased. This type of prayer is known to Muslims as "دعاء" (pronounced Du'a).
In this prayer book from Turkey, there are several beautifully versed du'as. Muslims use Arabic in salat (worship) but can use any language when making du'as outside the salat. However, in Islamic tradition, many beautiful and famous du'a have accumulated and recorded, and there are well known du'as directly from the Qur'an, and Muslims tend to memorize and recite these du'as in Arabic. Thus, in the prayer book displayed, there are du'as in Arabic form with its diacritical marks, so the Muslims whose mother tongue is not Arabic can learn and recite them.
在本書中，書寫有重複104次的「يا ٱلۡوَدُودُ 」（ya al-Wadud）字樣，意思是「啊！至愛者！」這種反覆的祈求和讚唸是一種簡單、真切且有力的方式，用來紀念真主。穆斯林在這樣的活動（Zikr，讚主）中，常常唸誦真主的不同尊名，「至愛者」（al-Wadud）就是真主的名字和屬性之一。穆斯林相信，神愛一個人不只是因為這個人是誰或做了什麼；而是因為愛是神的本質之一。所以在穆斯林的祈禱中，尤其是在面對困難，或是在懺悔的祈禱中，常常會用到「至愛者」的名字。
在讚頌「至愛者」之後，本書提供了一些針對不同情形的篤阿（祈禱詞）。比如圖2下半部分的內容是關於誦讀古蘭經之前或之後的篤阿，這一段篤阿生動地表現出了穆斯林對於真主的話語——古蘭經的熱愛：
其中文翻譯如下：
喔，真主啊，以高貴的古蘭經慈憫我們吧。
請讓它成為我們的圭臬，成為我們的光芒，成為我們的指引，成為我們恩典的來源。喔真主啊，請讓我不要忘記我所背誦的，讓我理解我尚不理解的內容。求你讓我能日夜誦讀它，讓我的誦讀在審判時有利於我，不要讓它對我不利。
喔，眾世界的主宰啊！我們為你效力，我受前定（命定）的控制，我篤信前定，你對我的前定是公平的。我以你的每一個尊名呼喚你，那些尊名是你所自稱的名字，或是在古蘭經中啟示的名字，或是你曾教給你所創造的任何人的名字，或是你隱藏在不可見的世界中的名字，求你使尊貴的古蘭經成為我心中的春天，我眼中的光芒，我悲傷的撫慰，我苦難的搭救，使它成為我們通往天堂的嚮導，讓我們在你慈恩的幫助下，和你所賜予的恩典、先知、真正的信士、殉道者和正義者為伴。喔！真主啊，你是普慈今世的，特慈後世的，請你讓古蘭經成為我們的療癒，在今生和後世給我們慈憫吧！
In this prayer book, the words "يا ٱلۡوَدُودُ" (ya al-Wadud) have been repeated for 104 times. This word means "Oh! The Most Loving!" This repetition of supplication and chanting is a simple and powerful way of remembrance of God. Muslims often recite the different names of God during such activities (Zikr, means remembrance of God), and al-Wadud is one of the names and attributes of God. Muslims believe that God loves a person not just because of who that person is or what he or she has done; but because love is one of God's attributions. This is why the name "The Most Loving" is often used in prayers, especially when one is in a difficulty situation or in one’s repentance.
After calling upon the Most Loving One, the prayer book offered some du’as for different situations. For example the content after “Oh the Most Loving” is a du’a for recitation of Qur’an as translated below:
O Allah! Let me receive Your mercy by the means of the Noble Qur’an and make it my guide as well as a source of light, guidance, and grace for me. O Allah! Revive my memory of whatever I was made to forget, grant me understanding of whatever I don’t know, enable me to recite it during hours of day and night and make it my main argumentative support (in all matters), Oh Lord of the Worlds. We are entirely at Your service. You hold me by my forelock. Your Decree is what controls me, and Your Commands to me are just. I supplicate You by every one of Your Names, those which You use to refer to Yourself, or have revealed in Your Book, or have taught to any one of Your creation, or have chosen to keep hidden with You in the Unseen, to make the Noble Qur’an the springtime of my heart, the light of my eyes, the departure of my grief, and the vanishing of my affliction and my sorrow, and make it our guild to the paradise in the company of those whom You have bestowed Your grace, the prophets, the truly faithful, the martyrs, and righteous, by the help of your mercy, Oh Allah, the most Merciful, and most Compassionate, and make the Qur’an our healer, and give us a mercy in this life and life hereafter.
在奧斯曼帝國的文學傳統中，有一種十分流行的文字體裁被稱作「Hilya」，也就是描述先知穆罕默德 ﷺ 身形樣貌的文字描述。這種文學傳統是發源自聖訓裡聖門弟子對於先知 ﷺ 外貌的記述。在奧斯曼帝國的藝術中，這種先知 ﷺ 身型樣貌的文字常常用精美的書法表現出來，並配上頁面裝飾，發展成了一種具有標準佈局的藝術形式，還常常被裝裱起來作為牆壁上的裝飾。
在本書中，也包括有描述先知和四位哈里發的身形樣貌的內容：
「安拉的使者玉樹臨風、氣宇軒昂。他的臉龐像滿月光一樣閃亮。他的身材勻稱[有完美的和諧比例]。他比中等身高的人要高一些，比高個子的人要矮一點。他的頭寬大，頭髮既不捲曲也不是完全的直髮。如果他的頭髮分開的話，他就會讓它自然分開，當他的頭髮留長時，長度不會超過他的耳垂。他的皮膚白皙，眉毛濃重，中間有一個狹窄的空間。他那裡有一條靜脈，在他生氣的時候會跳動。他的鬍鬚濃密而飽滿。他有黑色的眼睛，臉頰結實而高聳，嘴巴寬大，牙齒潔白，[門牙之間]有輕微的縫隙。」
In the literary tradition of the Ottoman Empire, there is a popular literacy genre known as Hilya, which is a written description of the physical appearance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This tradition is derived from the accounts of the Companions. In the art of the Ottoman Empire, the art form of Hilya was often made with fine calligraphy with margin decoration. It has been developed into a standard art form and often framed as wall decoration.
Description of the physical appearance of the Prophet ﷺ are translated below:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was imposing and majestic. His face shone like the full moon. His physique was finely balanced [in perfect harmony and proportion]. He was somewhat taller than medium height and a little shorter than what could be described as tall. His head was large, and he had hair that was neither curly nor straight. If his hair parted, he would leave it parted and it did not go beyond the lobes of his ears if he allowed it to go long. He was very fair skinned with a wide brow and had thick eyebrows with a narrow space between them. He had a vein there which throbbed when he was angry. His beard was thick and full. He had black eyes, firm and high cheeks, a wide mouth, and white teeth with slight gaps [between his front teeth].
作為一本用於指導信徒祈禱和讚主的小書。本書提供了一些在特定場合下的祈禱詞。
例如圖4左側的紅色字寫道：「葬禮的祈禱」。
然後下面寫下了葬禮祈禱詞的內容：
「喔真主啊，請饒恕我們仍在世的人，和已經過世的人們吧。饒恕在場的和不在場的人們吧。饒恕我們中的年輕人吧，饒恕我們中的老人吧，饒恕我們中的男人和女人吧。喔真主啊，讓我們中會繼續活下去的人謹守伊斯蘭，讓我們中將會死去的人能夠帶著信仰離去吧。」
As a book used to guide believers in prayer and zikr. The book also provides some prayers for specific occasions. For example, on the left side of this page, written in red, says: Prayer for Funeral.
Prayer for Funeral:
O God, forgive us, forgive the ones who are alive and those who have passed away. Please forgive those who are here and those who are not here. Please forgive the youths among us, forgive the elders among us, and forgive the men and women among us. O God, please let those who will continue to live to live upon on Islam, and let those of us who will die to depart with iman (faith).
什麼叫做「照字」（Istaftah）？
What is Called "Istaftah"?
在伊斯蘭經典和宗教類書籍的抄寫和裝訂傳統中，存在著一種獨特的標註習慣，叫作「照字」，也就是在前一頁的書頁空白處寫上下一頁的第一個單字，讓兩個字能夠對應起來，以防止缺頁或是排序錯誤。例如圖5的照片中，右側的頁面下方空白處寫了一個字「فَوَسَطْنَۦ」，這個字和下一頁的第一個字完全相同。
在圖5內容中出現的是這本祈禱書裡的古蘭經短章。古蘭經共有114章，一般而言，簡短、比較容易背誦的有約18個章。這一頁出現的是古蘭經的第100章「阿迪亞特章」（奔馳的馬隊）
它的中文翻譯如下：
- 以喘息奔馳的馬隊為誓言，
- 以馬蹄迸發出火光的馬隊為誓言，
- 以早晨出擊，
- 捲起塵埃，
- 攻入敵圍的馬隊為誓言，
- 人類對於神，的確是辜恩的。
- 人類對於自己的辜恩是見證的，
- 人類酷愛金錢。
- 難道他們不知道嗎？當墳塋中的朽骨被揭示出來，
- 心中的秘密被顯現出來的時候。
- 在那一天，他們的主確是徹知他們的。
這一本祈禱手冊書寫於伊斯蘭曆1294年，即西曆1926年。在抄寫和製作這本書的時候，正值伊斯蘭世界歷史上一個極其重要的時期，即奧斯曼帝國的滅亡。自從先知穆罕默德 ﷺ 去世後，伊斯蘭歷史上首次出現了沒有哈里發（穆斯林社群的領導人）的局面。土耳其共和國建立後，凱末爾廢除了哈里發制度，在新生的土耳其共和國裡推行世俗化、西化和文字改革。
我們在這本祈禱手冊上，仍能看到阿拉伯文字和奧斯曼文字的使用。在不久之後的1928年，土耳其就將廢除這種文字，開始用拉丁字母來拼寫現代土耳其語。這本書今天靜靜地躺在世界宗教博物館中，為我們記錄下了那個波濤洶湧的大時代中的篇章。
In the tradition of copying and binding Islamic books, there is a unique practice of notation called "Istaftah", which means that the first word of the next page is written in the margin of the previous page so that the two words can correspond to each other in order to prevent missing pages or disordering. For example, in the photo here, the word "فَوَسَطْنَۦ" is written in the bottom margin of the right-hand page, which is the same as the first word of the next page.
There are 114 surahs (chapters) in the Qur’an and there are about 18 surahs among them are short and easier to memorize. The Surah al-Adiyat is presented here and translated below:
- By the racers, panting,
- And the producers of sparks [when] striking[d]
- And the chargers at dawn,
- Stirring up thereby [clouds of] dust,
- Arriving thereby in the center[e] collectively,
- Indeed mankind, to his Lord, is ungrateful.
- And indeed, he is to that a witness.
- And indeed he is, in love of wealth, intense.
- But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered,
- And that within the breasts is obtained,
- Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Aware.
This prayer book was written in the Islamic calendar the year of 1294 or 1926 CE. It was written and produced at a significant era in the history of Islamic world, namely during the fall of the Ottoman Empire. For the first time in Islamic history, there was no caliph (leader of the Muslim community) since the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk abolished the caliphate and introduced secularization, westernization, and text reform in the new Turkish Republic.
In this prayer book written in 1926, we can still see the use of Arabic and Ottoman scripts. Soon after two years in 1928, Ottoman script would be abolished, the new modern Turkish language would be spelled in Latin alphabet.
末代奧斯曼帝國蘇丹離開伊斯坦堡，1923年
The last Ottoman sultan leaving Istanbul in 1923
