Growing up in Karachi, Pakistan going to the mosque, maulvi sahib coming home for Quran Sharif talawat, Ramazan, Tarawee etc etc…We muslims practice our faith in a language which is niether understood or spoken by the majority. From Indonesia to the United States of America, there are only 225MM Arab Muslims out of the 1.5Billion across the globe.
Can we and should we allow Salaat, Tarawee and other religious practices in the local languages?
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Sanskirit would have to be adopted in Pakistan's case, so as to let all the converted progeny of hindus feeling nostalgic, connect to their ancestors.....
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Prayers will be lost in translation.
Re: Salaat in other languages?
You are free to do whatever you seem comfortable with and you can allow it as much as you like; the only difference is that Allah:swt: may not have allowed it. But what the heck.
Re: Salaat in other languages?
So instead of it being lost in translation; people simply won’t get anything! 
Forget the fact that the majority of people learn teachings from the Qu’ran from translation anyway. Its not like the Qu’ran isn’t already preserved that it must be orally protected.
The only reason why I would prefer to use the arabic is because it is more poetic and if truly God’s words; then it is not the meaning of the words that is important but the experience and connection with God. Educating urself on what the Qu’ran means is, in my opinion, not what prayer time is about. Therefore; the pakistani maulvi saahib can simply explain the verses to the people before the prayers..and then the prayer can be spent appreciating the recitation. Agreed, that most imam’s don’t make you appreciate the Qu’ran..they make it an effort to listen to them.
So..on one hand you have actually appreciating the gravity of the meaning of the words during prayer (which is achieved by making it language based) .. or appreciating the words of God (which can only be achieved in the original language). Either way; some form of appreciation and connection with God is achieved. And thats what’s more important.
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Why? Why not teach and learn Arabic so we understand these things? If it was French, English, Italian classes, people would be lining in droves learn, but to learn Arabic is fundamentalist…
I am a firm believer that every Muslim should be bi-lingual, so why shouldn’t the second language be Arabic?
Instead of trying to make your hand fit the glove, you are trying to make the glove fit you hand…
Don’t happen…You’ll come out of its seams…
Re: Salaat in other languages?
so sad and true these days
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) belonged to the Quriash…ever wonder what they were doing before Mohammed (PBUH) recieved the wahi’s??
Re: Salaat in other languages?
And…whats happening in the current state of affairs? Offering prayers in a language alien to them…so whats the purpose of reading something which does not convey any meaning?? Lost in recitation…
Re: Salaat in other languages?
My question was…can we? If not, pls tell me where it states that prayers and offering sud only be in Arabic??
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Well said, but then again majority of the believers are not so fortunate as you or those who can afford to submit themselves to try and understand teachings of Quran.
What about the masses who cannot afford to have education, leave aside trying to understand the Quran. These are ppl with faith in a concept which is dependent upon the teachings of their elders, maulvis or traditions. Wud’nt it be better if they cud recite prayers which by the way is a very personal matter in a language which they understand?
Having said that, I go back to the first part, is this practice of arabic prayers compulsary by tradition, sunnah or edict of God?
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Teaching Arabic as a second language is also an option…but that doesnt respond to the issue at hand. Is there any edict from God, tradition of the Prophet which categorically states that prayers can only be dlivered in Arabic. If that is not the case then teaching of man made languages kis a subjective and relative issue.
Just one more point. What difference has Quran made on those who have the benefit of understanding its meaning??
Re: Salaat in other languages?
There is a point for not offering prayers in any other language, that you will get away from the original script and meanings of Quran and imagine after 100 years every one will be offering prayers like other religions where they lost relations with the original books and depending on translations in their language, stick to the meaning of what ever translated. This is what happend with bible and that is why now you can see so many version of it.
If you notice that there are prayer books and Qurans available with translation and if you just read one page original text along with translation that has more value then finishing the whole Quran without understanding. I started doing that many years ago and Alhamdu-Lilah I feel that I can understand it much better and it helped me a lot understanding the purpose.
The above practice will not only help understand the Quran and prayers but also improve your Arabic knowledge.
I also have a version of Quran only in Urdu and belive me, that I never have the same feeling when I read it (like Arabic Quran with translation) .
Re: Salaat in other languages?
agree with Lajawab.
there are few verses in the quran which state the importance of arabic language(have to look up the verses).
How do you supppose Hajj would be, it would be a chaos.
Re: Salaat in other languages?
so chinese have to read arabic to understand about islam ?why anyone would go through
such a hardship? what language is fit for physics?
Re: Salaat in other languages?
Lajawab already wrote it what I was about to say. It is responsibility of every Muslim to learn Arabic. They should be able to understand and pray in Arabic instead of any other language. No excuses here.
Re: Salaat in other languages?
What were the languages of Hazrat Musa and Hazrat Eissa? Messages they delivered were in their dialect, their time and culture. Languages are the medium of exchange and are subjective issues, existence of God and message remains the same. Lets not think on lines which have been conditioned by the passage of time, I repeat my first question....is there Quranic text which states the obvious, is there Sunnah evidence??
Re: Salaat in other languages?
i had a similar question long time ago..but subhanallah allah guided me to get the answer. it is because quran itself states that it is in arabic. so there can be no quran that is not in arabic. arabic translation is called meaning of the trasnlation not english quran or urdu quran. so there you go man. all these ayahs specifically state arabic as language of quran.
Verily, We have sent it down as an arabic Qur'ân in order that you may understand. (Yusuf 12:2)
And thus have We sent it (the Qur'ân) down to be a judgement of authority in arabic. Were you (O Muhammad SAW) to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which has come to you, then you will not have any Walî (protector) or defender against Allâh. (Ra'd 13:37)
And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: "It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad SAW)." The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Qur'ân) is a clear arabic tongue. (An-Nahl 16:103)
And thus We have sent it down as a Qur'ân in arabic, and have explained therein in detail the warnings, in order that they may fear Allâh, or that it may cause them to have a lesson from it (or to have the honour for believing and acting on its teachings). (Ta-Ha 20:113)
In the plain arabic language. (Ash-Shu'ara 26:195)
An arabic Qur'ân, without any crookedness (therein) in order that they may avoid all evil which Allâh has ordered them to avoid, fear Him and keep their duty to Him. (Az-Zumar 39:28)
A Book whereof the Verses are explained in detail; A Qur'ân in arabic for people who know. (Fussilat 41:3)
And if We had sent this as a Qur'ân in a foreign language other than arabic, they would have said: "Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in our language)? What! (A Book) not in arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab?" Say: "It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur'ân) is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away (so they neither listen nor understand). (Fussilat 41:44)
We verily, have made it a Qur'ân in arabic, that you may be able to understand (its meanings and its admonitions). (Az-Zukhruf 43:3)
And before this was the Scripture of Mûsa (Moses) as a guide and a mercy. And this is a confirming Book (the Qur'ân) in the arabic language, to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings to the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112). (Al-Ahqaf 46:12)
Re: Salaat in other languages?
but other than quran we can say other idhkar in other languages…and allah knows best…
this religion is beautiful, it has come to make the rituals easy on us not hard. it is just the main concepts that are strictly enforced. that are tawheed, belief in the message of prophets, al wara wal bara, and no questioning of the ahkam of allah. wallah o alam.
I have become Muslim, al-hamdu-Lillaah, but I do not know Arabic. What should I do with regard to the adhkaar (phrases praising Allaah) in the prayer and reading Qur’aan in Arabic?
Answer :
Praise be to Allaah.
The majority of fuqaha’ say that if the non-Arab can speak Arabic, he should not recite Takbeer (saying “Allaahu akbar (Allaah is Most Great)”) in any other language. The evidence for this is that the texts instruct this particular wording, which is Arabic, and that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do it any other way.
But if a non-Arab cannot speak Arabic and is unable to pronounce it, then according to the majority of fuqaha’ it is OK for him to say the Takbeer in his own language after it has been translated from Arabic, according to the statements of the Shaafa’is and Hanbalis, no matter what the language is. The Takbeer is remembrance or mentioning of Allaah, and Allaah can be remembered or mentioned in every language, so a language other than Arabic is an alternative, and the person has to learn how to say it in the other language. There is some controversy as to whether all of the adhkaar of the prayer, such as tashahhud, qunoot, du’aa’, and the tasbeehaat in rukoo’ and sujood may be said in languages other than Arabic.
With regard to reading Qur’aan, the majority say that it is not permissible to read it in any language other than Arabic. The evidence for this is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’aan…” [Yoosuf 12:2]
Moreover, the Qur’aan is a miracle in its wording and its meaning; if it is changed, this is no longer the case, and it is no longer Qur’aan but an interpretation (tafseer). (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 5: A’jami).
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Section: It is not right to read it in any language other than Arabic, or to substitute other words in Arabic, whether the person can read it well in Arabic or not, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…an Arabic Qur’aan …’ [Yoosuf 12:2] and ‘In the plain Arabic language’ [al-Shu’ara’ 26:195]. The Qur’aan is a miracle in both its wording and its meaning, but if it is changed this is no longer the case, it is not Qur’aan or anything like it. It is only an interpretation (tafseer), and if the interpretation were like the Qur’aan itself, they would not be unable to meet the challenge of producing a soorah like it.
If a person cannot read well in Arabic, he has to learn. If he does not learn when he is able to, his prayers are not valid. If he is not able, or he fears that he does not have time to learn before the time for the next prayer is over, and he knows one aayah of al-Faatihah, he should repeat it seven times… If he can recite more than that, he should repeat it as much as he needs to make his recitation equivalent to the length of Soorat al-Fatihah, or he could make it up by reciting other aayaat. If he knows some aayaat he does not have to repeat, he could recite another aayah instead, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded the one who could not recite Qur’aan well to say ‘Al-Hamdu Lillaah (Praise be to Allaah)’ and other phrases, which is part of an aayah, but he did not command him to repeat it. If he cannot do anything, but he knows some of the Qur’aan by heart, he should recite whatever he can, and nothing else will do, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood from Rifaa’ah ibn Raafi’, who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you get up to pray, if you know some Qur’aan, recite it, otherwise say al-hamdu Lillaah (praise be to Allaah), and La ilaaha ill-Allaah (there is no god but Allaah), and Allaahu akbar (Allaah is Most Great).” This is more like Qur’aan, and is more appropriate (than any other words). He should also recite as much as he needs to make it equivalent in length to Soorat al-Faatihah. If he cannot recite anything of the Qur’aan, and cannot learn before it is too late to pray the current prayer, he should say Subhaan Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (Glory be to Allaah; praise be to Allaah; there is no god but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great; and there is no strength and no power except with Allaah). Abu Dawood reported that a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said: “I cannot learn anything of the Qur’aan. Teach me something that will suffice me.” He said, “Say Subhaan Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah.”
And Allaah knows best.
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Re: Salaat in other languages?
To tie culture, language and travel plans so closely to Arabia, it wouldn't be a strech to call it Arabism.