Praying in Arabic?

Society Religion & Philosophy
21

They can pray behind the imam.

22

LightB has raised legitimate question. However the base of the question may not be correct.

No it is not a conspiracy by anyone if we recite few Arabic verses during the prayers. It is just a tradition. And guess what? Every religion in its outwards appearance is simply a collection of traditions. If you change any of the established traditions, you will "intentionally or unintentionally" end up starting a new sect/religion.

Having said that,

we all must realize that prayer is the most intimate moment with Allah and the individual who is praying. The language used during that prayer is immaterial except for a tradition.

Thus you may be asked to recite something in Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, Sanskrit, or Greek as per the tradition, so use the prescribed set of sentences in that language,

however

once you have used the "prescribed" words, you are free to use your favorite language to "augment" your communication with Allah. Since this is totally private matter between you and Allah, no one needs to know what you said and in what language.

For example, when you are in Sajda, and you have said the prescribed Arabic words three times, you don't have to end your stance and get up. Just continue on and talk to Allah. Have a "conversation", think as if He is right there in front of you and you are making a true sajda.

Thus, treat the prayer as a complete set of communication with Allah, and not just the Arabic part as per the tradition. Just enjoy being in contact with him for as long as you can. Do not treat the prayer as going through robotic motions.

23


What it actually means;
5 times like me.
with full conviction.

or in arabic.

I understand it could be all three or just one. What was the context of this Hadees.


I added a LOL after the conspiracy. I really dont know the real reason apart from it being tradition. Anyway good post appreciate it.

24

Thanks for the explanation. It makes lot of sense.

25

if its a genuine disability than he can take a ruling from a scholar but I am sure he is allowed to bend the rules ..

Just like if I have a disability where I cannot stand, then I am allowed to sit and pray, but not everyone is allowed to sit and pray

26

Re: Praying in Arabic?

"Pray as you have seen me praying" (Bukhari & Ahmad)

If a man came and performed a dance for you and sang a song in Chinese and told you to watch carefully and then do as you have seen me doing, would you then in your turn follow the exact movements of his dance and yet sing the song in your native language instead?

Anyways, there is a basic principle in Fiqh. When it comes to matters of ibadah, everything is haraam except for that which there is clear evidence from the Quran and Sunnah. And when it comes to all other matters, everything is halaal except for that which there is clear evidence from the Quran and Sunnah. So someone cant come and say, "we are allowed to pray Fajr salah standing on our heads, show me an ayah or hadith that forbid such prayer". Rather you are NOT allowed to perform Fajr prayer standing on your head UNLESS you have a clear daleel for this act. Likewise, someone cant come and say, "bananas are haraam, show me an ayah or hadith that say that they are halaal", rather we know that bananas are halaal, unless there is a clear daleel to prove otherwise

Moreover, there were many non-Arabs who embraced Islam at the time of the Prophet [pbuh] afterwards. Everyone did not speak Arabic obviously. Is there any record of anyone NOT performing their prayers in Arabic. If anyone ever did, if the Prophet ever approved of such an action, surely it would be clearly known

27

Very powerful arguments indeed. :biggthumb:

28

right :rose:

29

Re: Praying in Arabic?

And plus... Allah Almighty on different occasions have Himself asserted in the Holy Quran about bringing down the book, in none other than the Arabic Language... And so this directly leads to the fact that our prayes should also be In Quranic Language (I am emphasising on the Quranic language, and not Arabic here)... because salat is directly taken from Holy Quran... Unlike Gospels in Christianity which are words of human, and Muslims don't pray like that.

30

:salam:

Long time no see. And now you show up to stir this controversy.

The answer lies in the need to establish the identity of what a muslim is and what a muslim does. You have to pay your debt as it is contracted not as you please. Belief is a belief but its your practice that sets you apart with a distinct identity as a muslim. And then praying is communicating with Allah SWT in his own speech for much part which cannot be replicated in other languages. Its in Arabic and it is what it is. The choice of words are his SWT not any others whereas translations in other languages would not be his SWT choice of words would they. They would just carry a similar meaning.

Now would you being a muslim prefer to abandon the speech of Allah SWT over a translation in another language. And if you praying in another language gives you comfort of understanding then obviously you already know what the words you are reciting in Arabic mean because you’ve searched for their translation.

31

Re: Praying in Arabic?

MashaAllah the before mentioned contain many good reasons and justifications for the Arabic prayer.

We should also note that most of our prayer is from the Qur'an which is the very Word of God. It is not classed as such if it is translated.

Also, supplication or du'a in our own language is not forbidden but encouraged.

The distinction hence is not that something is in Arabic or not rather whose words they are. If they are du'ahs then their source can be from three places:

1) From the Qur'an
2) From the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
3) From the people

Of course those that come from the people are given allowance in any language and those from the Qur'an are and must be recited with the adab of Qur'an. Likewise if at any point the prayer forms or a part of it is formed by a non-Qur'anic/Prophetic du'ah then to recite it in ones own language would make sense.

Remember the Qur'an although Arabic is not like Arabic from humans, this line of reasoning demonstrates that Salah can only be recited in Arabic.

Also with issues for haram and halal ... in addition to what has already been said ... clear daleel as refered to by sister midnighteyes will and can pertain to those things that are in place as a precursor to the intended end.

Doing wudu is therefore Fard, because it is required for Salat (water being present), which is a Fard.

A requisite of the condition that follows it, becomes of the same class/category of what it determines/makes sure of.

Also, to wash hands to elbow is required in hadith as an article of the wudu, but to a person without hands this article cannot be binding even though it is requried in the general sense.

32

Re: Praying in Arabic?

I thought lightbearer was actually looking for answers.

Oh well. This is the time where I go to bigger and better things where people acutally want to learn..and not merely say cause "they feel like it"

Wasted my 20 minute replying to a person whose intention is not learning but just growing their stats.

33

Re: Praying in Arabic?

The hadith above can be taken in different ways. And yet we take only arabic recitation out of it being important.

If it was really true that we believe on that hadith, then how come so many ways prayer is performed by different people? What was the way the prophet SAW was talking about when he said to "pray like me?"

Does this mean arabic is the only way to make people unite? And we know its not true either.

The way so many muslims pray it is a ritual. Merely a ritual. They believe the prayer must be at a certain time and it should be observed like it is said to be (fine) and they recite arabic in prayer like parrots.

True or false?

We do not think in arabic, we do not talk in arabic, we read Quran in arabic, thinking it is sawab by itself. And what do we really get in terms of understanding, absorbing and accepting what we are saying in arabic?

We have to be honest at least when it comes to worshiping and praying, what changeit brings to pray like this other than we feel satisfied that we did what was expected of us and for some better people they feel thay had few minutes of 'indirect' contact with Allah.

Same is taraweeh! People are half sleepy, tired or thinking all sort of things in their minds while imam is reciting Quran fast which none of non-arabic people understand. Other than fulfilling the requirement or getting 'sawab' of hearing arabic words, what do these non-arabic people get?

If Allah liked Arabic so much then why other scriptures were not in arabic?

Is arabic very young language which did not exist in the days of Musa AS or Issa AS?

Doesn't it show that since Quran was revealed in Arab land on people who spoke arabic at the time, hence it was in arabic. But before, people did not speak arabic on whom Torah or Injeel was revealed hence they were not in same arabic language.

Interestingly, for non-arabic people arabic is so respectful that even a piece of paper with arabic written on it, some people respect and place it on high level...no matter what is on the piece of paper. Perhaps they do get some sawab from it and.,......good for them.

34

I am not aware of any references...the reason why we pray in Arabic is that when we translate Quran into other languages....there are some words in Arabic that cannot be encapsulated in other languages

The Hi/Bye Thread
35

Peace bro fayax

It seems that Lightbearer has a purpose for asking the question which is really asking why there is a political slant to Islam by what he is calling Arabization.

Simple truth is that every nation was given it's own prophet, but the prophet today we have (SAW) is the Seal of all Prophets. And yes he is Arab. When Islam was dominating the world back in the European Dark Ages no one thought of this question. Architecture and technology was being copied and books of literature and popular culture was being borrowed from the Islamic countries. Modesty and etiquette was instigated to humanity on a global level because of Islam. The principles of fairness towards women and many other things have been taken from Islam.

I ask why do we accept some things and want to reject others?

Yes, there is some level of Arabization, but that is because they achieved to do what everyone else failed to do, which is create the Islamic State that was meant to uphold Islam. Allah (SWT) chose Arabic one can view as a blessing on the Arabs, but also as a great disadvantage to the Arabs, in that they have fewer excuses not to learn and abide by the religion.

Those who learn through difficulty are rewarded more

Also, Our prophet Muhammad (SAW) was not only for humans, but for Jinn. Surely they can complain about him not being of their type, but that is besides the point with every perk there comes a handicap in Islam, demonstrating diversity and balance.

Then we have this language thing ... okay we all speak English. Why is it that we do not question the Anglisation of the world? We have the music scenes the styles and lyrics from the Western hemisphere why is it that we do not question these?

Every influential culture spreads itself and because Islam came to Arabs it is going to Arabize. I have no problem in that. Just like I have no problem that today English and Spanish are so widely spoken.

36

I thought you would not show up thanks for dropping by. Dont start with accusations, a lot things have happened in 1 1/2 year.

Good points.

Some more good points.

The question just occured when I was writing a post replying to TLK on another thread. Life is too busy to start a thread just for the heck of it. Anyway thanks for your 20 minutes, I wish I could pay you somehow. :slight_smile:

Taking you traweeh example, it has swab but not benefit as much as can be gained without knowing what is being said.

Because majority of the world speaks and undertands the language.

I guess I have found what I was looking for. More than that will just probably be repeating the same reasons, I would like to thank all you nice people for joining me in the thread and clear a lot of things. As I already have been accused of starting a controversy, I rest my case. If someone has something new to say please go ahead.

PS: I wish SlaveofAllah and Submission to peace were around.

The Hi/Bye Thread
37

Re: Praying in Arabic?

The point is that there are questions that people pose to learn - and then there is questions that people pose to be able to show other how much they argue without any logic.

Asking questions is to learn. If you want to ask then come up with your own statements which include your "mood" then that is not a discussion of reasoning, not a discussion on Islam. Then it is a discussion of moods. Know the difference.

38

Peace Light Bearer,

                       I did not want to be part of this discussion but I thought why not share what i think about this issue..

The reason why you think you are just parroting is because you have never really thought about what is the translation of the prayer you are saying in salat. One of the reason could be that you're not regular in ur namaz.. if you were, the urge of knowing what you're saying in ur namaz will come to you automatically. Read the translation of salat in whichever language and then the next time you read namaz, when you'll be saying it in arabic, you'll automatically know what you're saying in ur language. The more you read namaz , the more you'll know what you are saying/asking in ur namaaz. Its tried and tested.

As for why one cannot read namaz in other language then Arabic ,is because it shows unity amongst the Muslim ummah. Theres one language for all Muslims which is common , that is arabic. Imagine a German Imam or French Imam leading the congregational prayer in German language or french language.. everyone would have their own congregational prayers based on their own language.

Arabic also is known as the mother of all the languages.

Just like how we dont translate whatever we read in English into Urdu or Punjabi because we're used to this language. Once you become regular in Namaz, you will also insh'allah know what you're saying even in Arabic.

Also, i suggest you to read Qur'an in arabic and learn basic Arabic words. This will help you understand what you're saying in namaz.. words such as ar-rahman, raheem, yaum, Mustakeem, wahdaahu la shareek etc.. these are small words which will ring a bell in ur head what it means when you're reading namaz.

39

I think you raised valid questions and good to know that you found some answers to your query.

40

[QUOTE]

The way so many muslims pray it is a ritual. Merely a ritual. They believe the prayer must be at a certain time and it should be observed like it is said to be (fine) and they recite arabic in prayer like parrots.

True or false?

We do not think in arabic, we do not talk in arabic, we read Quran in arabic, thinking it is sawab by itself. And what do we really get in terms of understanding, absorbing and accepting what we are saying in arabic

[/QUOTE]

Well whose fault is that except their own? Who is telling not to make an effort to learn enough Arabic to at least understand their own prayers, which they have been performing five times a day for so many years? Who is telling them to not make any effort to understand and reflect on what they are reciting in prayer? Who is telling them to degrade their salah to a mere physical exercise, instead of allowing it to be a spiritual connection with Allah SWT

If we would ever reflect just the slighest bit on what we are reciting in our prayers, reflect on WHO we are coming to stand before --it would make a world of difference in our lives

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