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:

I am deaf both ears since birth. My language is only English but my parents are hindu but i convert to Islam and i dont know how to read and announce word in Arabic becuase i find very difficuit. I only pray all english words but some in arbric like Bismallah rahmanir rahim, Allahu Akbar, Subhana Rabbiyal Azim/Ala. Most of the word i pray are in English. I want to know i doing right or wrong? My friend told me that it is important to read Arabic

(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:

Transliteration deaf revert and learn arabic

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verses 125-126:

So (the fact is that) whomever Allah wills to guide aright, He makes his breast wide open to Islam. And whomever He wills to let go astray, He makes his breast narrow and squeezes it so tight that (at the very idea of Islam) he begins to feel as if his soul were climbing up towards the sky. Thus Allah puts the Wrath over those who do not believe, whereas this Way (Al-Islam) is the Straight Way of your Lord, and We have made its Signs quite clear for those who are open to advice.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura verse 13:

13 …… Allah chooses to Himself those whom He Pleases; and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him for guidance).

Allah-o-Akbar! Allah-o-Akbar! Allah-o-Akbar! Allah is indeed The Greatest! Praise be to Allah Subhanah, the Lord and Creator of the Universe Alone, Who chooses to Himself whomsoever He Wills and Pleases, and Who guides to Himself those who turn to Him for guidance. Praise and Thanks are due to Allah Subhanah Alone Who has opened your heart to the Truth of Al-Islam and guided you to the path that leads to His Mercy and His Forgiveness.

Allah-o-Akbar! Allah-o-Akbar! Allah-o-Akbar!

As your brothers and sincere well-wishers in faith, we take this opportunity to congratulate you and invite you wholeheartedly to the path of Truth that you have chosen for your self. May Allah Subhanah bestow His Infinite Mercies and Blessings upon you, and grant you the wisdom and the courage to remain steadfast on the path you have chosen until the Day when the last breath leaves your soul, and you meet with your Lord Creator in a state where He is Pleased with you, and you with Him. Ameen.

Your Statement: i dont know how to read and announce word in Arabic becuase i find very difficuit.

Beloved Sister in Islam, it is only natural that one who is not born or taught a language, will find it extremely difficult to read or pronounce even a word in that new language!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.459 Narrated by Aisha

The Prophet (saws) said, "Such a person as recites the Qur'an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur'an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2137 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone recites a letter from Allah's Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim are one letter, but alif is a letter, lam is a letter and mim is a letter."

If one has chosen to believe, but does not know how to read the language of the Quran (Arabic) at all, there is absolutely no harm if one reads the transliteration of the Quran; Allah will, Insha Allah, give them a double reward for their sincere efforts. The believer should also make a sincere effort to learn at least the absolute basics of the Arabic language, as much as his time and schedule may permit, to facilitate their further recitation and understanding of the Glorious Book of Guidance from their Lord.

But what is of absolute paramount importance is that one understands what one reads! It would avail little, if a person, who does not understand the Arabic language, to recite the Glorious Quran a million times …. But all their deeds are against the guidance and teachings of the Holy Quran! Thus, if one does not read or understand the Arabic language, it is imperative that one read the translation of the Holy Quran in a language which one understands best; so that they may know, obey, and follow the commands and teachings that His Lord has revealed for their guidance.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.545 Narrated by Uthman

The Prophet (saws) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an, and teach it."

Your Question: Most of the word i pray are in English. I want to know i doing right or wrong? My friend told me that it is important to read Arabic

The deen of Islam is a way of life and belief in the One Lord, that binds all the believers of different nationalities, different languages, different regions, different colors, different walks of life into the One Ummah and Brotherhood of Islam! And the prescribed prayers in Arabic is one tangible and visible unit which unites all the believers into the Ummah. Just imagine the chaos and confusion it would create if everyone prayed the prescribed ‘salaah’ in one’s own language! A believer from Malaysia would never be able to pray in congregation in Japan, or the USA, or in Makkah, etc.! The unity of the muslims would be in absolute shambles and disarray! But by choosing one language, a believer is at home in any mosque in the world and this salaah in one language unifies and sanctifies the believers as One Brotherhood and One Ummah; all united in the worship of their One and Only Lord, Most Supreme.

Dear and beloved Sister in Islam, although there is absolutely no compulsion or obligation in Islam that every believer must master the Arabic language, it would only be prudent to at least strive to memorize a few phrases in the Arabic language which will enable you to offer your prescribed prayers in Arabic, so that you, like every believing brother and sister of yours in faith, are united by the tangible rite of prayer in the Brotherhood and Ummah of Islam.

Beloved Sister, the easiest way to memorize the few phrases required to fulfill the prescribed prayer is to memorize them from the ‘transliteration’ of Arabic into a language you know or understand best. Even if you were to memorize only a few phrases a day, the maximum time it would take you to learn to pray the prescribed prayers like your believing brethren would be a week, or maximum a month.

What we can do for here is ‘transliterate’ those phrases from the Arabic into the English language which would suffice you for your prescribed prayers:

Surah 1 Al-Fatihah (obligatory recitation in every rakah of prayer)

1 Bismilla_hir rahma_nir rahim.

2 Alhamdu lilla_hi rabbil 'a_lamin.

3 Ar rahma_nir rahim.

4 Ma_liki yaumid din.

5 Iyya_ka na'budu wa iyya_ka nasta'in.

6 Ihdinas siratal mustaqim.

7 Sira_tal lazina an'amta 'alaihim gairil magdu_bi 'alaihim walad da_llin.

Surah 103 Al-Asr (one of the shortest Surahs of the Quran for voluntary recitation)

1 Wal ahr

2 In nal insa_na lafi khusr

3 Il lal ladzina a_ma_nu_ wa amilus sa_liha_ti wa tawasau bil haq qi wa tawa_sau bis sabr

Surah 108 Al-Kauthar (one of the shortest Surahs for voluntary recitation)

1 In na_ ataina_kal kautsar

2 Fasal li lirab bika wanhar

3 In na sha_ni aka huwal abtar

If you could try to secure to memory the above few short Surahs of the Quran and learn the few phrases of praise and glorification of the Lord and the few supplications which are listed below which should not take you more than a day or two, you would be well on your way to establish prayer, Insha Allah.

1. 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.

2. QIYAM or Standing

Pray the Surah Al Fateha and any other aayahs from the Quran.

3. RUKU or bowing

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

4. STANDING UP FROM RUKU

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

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

5. SAJDAH (Prostration)

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

6. SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAHS

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

At times the Prophet (saws) used to make this supplication: ‘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)

7. 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.

8. TASLEEM to signal the end of prayer.

After completion of the ‘tashahud’, the Prophet (saws) would end his prayer by first turning his face towards his right and then left by saying: ‘As Salaam-o-alaykum wa Rahmatullah’ meaning ‘May Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah’.

The above is a short and concise description of the prayers as prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws). Any believer whom you know could easily teach you the exact rites of prayer and its obligations, Insha Allah.

Your Question: Most of the word i pray are in English. I want to know i doing right or wrong? My friend told me that it is important to read Arabic

Dear and beloved Sister in Islam, until the time it takes you to memorize the few phrases needed to fulfill your prescribed prayers, there is absolutely no harm if you could hold a copy of the above ‘transliteration’ in your prayers.

If indeed you find even that too difficult or cumbersome, until the time it takes you to memorize the few phrases to fulfill your prescribed prayers in Arabic, there is absolutely no harm if you recite your prescribed prayers in English or any language you understand best; it is expected that your Lord Most Gracious will accept your efforts and will not diminish your reward in the least, Insha Allah.

Beloved Sister, if we could be of any further help in your this noble intention of facilitating your reversion to the Truth of Islam, we would consider it an honor and deem ourselves indeed fortunate to be given an opportunity to serve in the Cause of the Lord Most High.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan