Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Since the Quran is in Arabic and i don`t understand Arabic although I can read it. If I don`t understand, I don`t have a lot o finterest in reading it but I really really want to understand it. What do i do? Also can u please give me a website that has an animation of how to perform salat and all the "words" that are used to do salat! Thank you very much and May Allah bless u all 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

How to understand Quran?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: the Quran is in Arabic and i don`t understand Arabic although I can read it. If I don`t understand, I don`t have a lot o finterest in reading it but I really really want to understand it. What do i do?

Although the recitation of the Glorious Quran in itself brings a lot of reward, the real beauty and blessings of the Quran can only be manifested in our lives if we understand this Divine and Blessed Message, and strive to implement its guidance in our daily lives.  Thus it is absolutely imperative on everyone who has been blessed to be literate to read the Quran with understanding, so that the values that this Blessed Message imbibes can be implemented in our lives. 

Learning the Arabic language or any new language is indeed a hard ask for most people whose first language is not Arabic; thus the best and immediate option is to read the translation of the Glorious Quran in a language one understands best.  All Praise is due to Allah Subhanah Who has blessed some amongst His believing slaves to translate the Message and Meaning of the Glorious Quran in almost all the widely utilized languages in the world. 

It is indeed true that no translation could even come close to the literary beauty of the original language of the Quran; but for a person who does not understand Arabic, comprehending the Quran through a translation is the absolute best and immediate option to understand this Divine and Blessed Message which our Merciful Lord has revealed for our guidance to the Straight Path.  If one is sincere in his/her striving to understand this Glorious Message, Allah Subhanah opens their hearts to the understanding of the Glorious Quran; and Allah is our witness, the Glorious Quran is indeed one of the easiest books to understand!

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185: Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a Perfect Guidance for mankind and consists of clear Teachings which show the Right Way, and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89: We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain,  and is a guidance,  blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

 Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 1-3: All praise is for Allah Alone,  Who has sent down this Book to His Servant (Mohamed (saws),  and assigned nothing crooked to it.   This Book says everything directly,  so that he may warn the people of the severe chastisement of Allah and give good news to the believers,  who do righteous deeds,  that they will have an excellent reward.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 43-44: So,  hold fast to the Book that has been revealed to you,  you are surely on the Siraat al Mustaqeem.  The fact is that this book is a great honor for you and your people,  and soon you shall be CALLED TO ACCOUNT for it.

Beloved Sister in Islam, you should be able to find the translation of the Glorious Quran in any good Islamic Bookstore or any Islamic Guidance Centre; and if you cannot find one, or need any help whatsoever in sourcing a good translation in the language you understand best, please do not hesitate in the least to write back to us.  It would be our honor and pleasure to assist you in this your quest for learning the Message of Truth.

Your Question: Also can u please give me a website that has an animation of how to perform salat and all the "words" that are used to do salat

Beloved Sister in Islam, I admit that I am not a regular ‘net-surfer’, thus off-hand I would not be able to provide you the web-address of a site which offers the prayers in animation.  But what we could do is provide you a basic outline of the phrases and its meanings that were used in the ‘salaat’ as performed by the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws).

Below is the prayers as conducted by the Prophet (saws) and his companions:

INTENTION AND TAKBIR

To make intention in your heart regarding the prayer you are about to make.   Then raise your hands to your ears and say “Allah o Akbar” meaning Allah is the Greatest,  signaling the start of Prayer.

QIYAM or Standing

Pray the Surah Al Fateha and any other aayahs from the Quran.  (minimum 3 aayahs)  These meanings can be learnt from the Quran Translation of the Surahs you want to pray.

3.   RUKU or bowing

The Prophet (saws) used to say:  “Subhan Allah il Adheem”   Glory be to Allah,  the Most Great. 3 times or more (but preferably in odd number formations,  3,5,7,9….)

STANDING UP FROM RUKU

The Prophet (saws) used to say:  “Sameh Allah ho Leman Hameda”  Allah listen to the one who is grateful for the bounties received by Allah.

The nobles companions in the congregation used to say: “Rabbana lakal hamd”  O our Lord,  we are grateful to you.

SAJDAH

The Prophet (saws) used to pray: “Surhana Rabb eil A’ala”  Glory be to Allah,  the Most High. (3 times or more in odd number formation 3,5,7,9…)

SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAHS

(This can be used to invoke any prayer to Allah.)

Allah hum mag firli wale waale dayya, wal lil mu’minina,  wal mu’minate,  wal muslemeena,  wal muslemaate,   hayy  min hum wala hum amwaat.

O Allah,  forgive me,  my parents,  the true believing men,  the true believing women,  the believing men,  the believing women,  whether alive from amongst them,  or they have died. (We beg You to forgive them all)

TASHAHUD

At tahiya  tu lillahe  was salawaato,  wat tayyebato  lillahe.

Every kind of salutes,  all kinds of prayers,  and all kinds of good and pure words and things, are for Allah Alone.

As Salaam alieka ya ayyo han nabi o,  wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

(Allah told the Prophet(saws) these words on the Night of Mairaaj in His audience):  May  Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you,   O Prophet (saws)

As Salaam o alayna wa a’la ibaa dallah hiss saleheen.

(The Prophet(saws) replied,  as Allah Himself is the source of All Peace,  and the Prophet (saws) could not possibly send Peace upon Allah):  May Peace be upon me (saws),  and the good, obedient  or pious slaves of Allah.

Ash hado ann laa ilaha illahlah,  wahdahu,  laa sharika lahuu,

(The Prophet(saws) said to Allah in audience): I bear witness that there is no god, except Allah,  Alone,  He has no partners.

Wa ash hado anna Mohamed dan abdullahi wa Rasul Allah.

(And Allah replied): And I bear witness that (you, O) Mohamed,  are the slave and Messenger of Allah

Allah humma salle a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed,  kama sallayta a’la Ibrahim wa ala  aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s blessings be upon Mohamed (saws),  and his ummah (or family or both),  just like the blessing of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka  Hameed un Majeed

For you are the All-Praiseworthy,  the Glorious One.

Allah humma barik a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed,  kama barakta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s baraka be upon Mohamed (saws) and his ummah (or family or both) just like the baraka of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed.

 For you are the All-Praiseworthy,  the Glorious One.

(Any Invocation to Allah)

Allah hum mag firli wale waaledayya war hum homa kama rabba yani saghira

O Allah,  forgive me,  and my parents,  and have mercy upon them both,  just as they had mercy on me when I was an infant.

The above is a short and concise description of the prayers.   If you have any further questions or need any clarifications whatsoever,  you could write to us and we will try to answer them to the best of our abilities,  in light of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), Insha Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan