why arabic?

JustaSisLovinLyf

passion for Islam
Asalamu Alaikum everyone-maybe someone can help me out;

Why must prayers be said in arabic only? I find myself really struggling to find a connection to Allah during my salat as arabic is not my native language. I find deeper satisfaction in saying my duas which i say in english. I feel guilty and still perform my prayers duitifully but it just feels sorta empty(reciting memorized surahs endlessly).I know its the language of the quran but.....Even learning arabic has proved to be a great stuggle and i just cant seem to connect arabic prayers with any type of deep connection or satisfaction even though i try.

Now PLEASE dont reply with" oh, you just need to strengthen your eman and obey Allah's commands to please him" which ive heard plenty of times. Im searching for a deeper fulfillment in prayer and am hoping someone( preferably converts) may have some insight. Thanks you guys!
 

yakubpasha

Junior Member
Asak,

This is a good question. I understand there will be more connection when you are saying something in your mother tongue. There are reasons why Allah asks us to do certain things. Look at how Quran is perfectly preserved as the Quran is only in Arabic. Compare this with Bible etc, and the original word is lost as the original language gets translated to eg English and then that gets translated to Chinese and the meaning is lost. No language can be translated 100%. When you are reading the Quran and saying your prayers in Arabic.

You are saying the literal word of God and when you say it in English its mans translation. Look at Shake spears work can it be translated to a different language and still hold its meaning.

There is unity in our religion as we have one language. I am able to communicate with you today as you and I both speak english, if we all just spoke in our own languages it would be really difficult

If i was to go to China and they are reading Salah, we could still follow as its the same everywhere.

Explanations can be given but finally

...."We hear and we obey" 24:51-52

Obeying Allah and His messenger is the foundation of the words La ilaha il Allah, Muhamadur Rasool Allah. (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His messenger) . It is the essence of the deen. To the extent that when we receive a command from the Quraan or from the Prophet, we are just to say, "we hear and we obey

We basically just follow the Prophet, we dont come up with innovations in religion.

I would recommend reading the translation of your prayers so that you are aware of what you are reciting. Also Arabic is not really that tough, just like any other language we need to spend time to learn it.

Imagine yourself standing before Allah everytime you are praying to increase concentration.

Allah knows best
 

Fatima S.Ar

Happiness = Islam
wa alaikom Assalam

hello all ... I'll clarify the reason for you
it's in Arabic for Arabic speakers

الحكمة أنه لا تجوز قراءة القرآن إلا باللغة العربية تتلخص في عدة أسباب كما أراها:

1- لأنه كلام الله تعالى، ولا يجوز لنا أن نحرف هذا الكلام أو نغير فيه حرفاً واحداً.

2- لأن تلاوة كل حرف بحسنة، والحسنة بعشر أمثالها. ولو تُرجم القرآن لزاد عدد حروفه أو نقص.

3- الله تعالى قد حفظ كتابه من التبديل والتحريف: (إنا نحن نزلنا الذكر وإنا له لحافظون) [الحجر: 9]. ولو سمح الله لكل إنسان أن يقرأ القرآن بلغته الخاصة لأدى ذلك إلى تحريف القرآن، وبالتالي فإن الله تعالى حفظ كتابه من خلال اللغة العربية.

4- إن السماح بقراءة القرآن بعدة لغات سوف يؤدي إلى خلل كبير في معاني القرآن لأن الناس سيختلفون في الترجمة وسيدعي كل واحد منهم أن ترجمته هي الصحيحة وبالتالي يتشتت المسلمون.

5- إن اجتماع المسلمين حول بيت واحد هو بيت الله، وتوجههم باتجاه قبلة واحدة هي الكعبة، وتلاوتهم لكتاب واحد هو القرآن، إن هذه الأشياء تساهم في الحفاظ على وحدة المسلمين، لكي لا يتفرقوا ويختلفوا.

6- إن اللغة العربية هي لغة خير البشر وأفضلهم عند الله ألا وهو نبي الرحمة صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهي لغة أهل الجنة، وهي لغة أبينا آدم، وهي اللغة التي يفهمها العقل، وتؤثر على خلايا الدماغ، وهذه النظرية تحتاج لإثبات علمي، ولكننا نعتقد بها لأن الله تعالى أخبرنا أنه أنزل القرآن باللغة العربية بهدف الإيضاح والفهم وحسن التدبر.

وأخيراً لنتأمل هذه الآيات:

1- يقول المشرعون إن اللغة العربية أفضل لغة في العالم يمكن التعبير بها عن التشريعات والقوانين بدون لبس أو اختلاط، لأنها لغة البلاغة، ولذلك سمى الله القرآن بالحكم، يقول تعالى: (وَكَذَلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ) [الرعد: 37].

2- إن اللغة العربية هي من أسباب التقوى، يقول أيضاً: (وَكَذَلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآَنًا عَرَبِيًّا وَصَرَّفْنَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْوَعِيدِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ أَوْ يُحْدِثُ لَهُمْ ذِكْرًا) [طه: 113].

3- إن لغة القرآن العربية هي وسيلة لزيادة التقوى ولرجوع المؤمن لربه، يقول تعالى: (وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآَنِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَثَلٍ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ * قُرْآَنًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيْرَ ذِي عِوَجٍ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ) [الزمر: 27-28].

4- واللغة العربية هي وسيلة لزيادة العلم، يقول تعالى: (حم * تَنْزِيلٌ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ * كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آَيَاتُهُ قُرْآَنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ) [فصلت: 1-3].

5- اللغة العربية وسيلة مناسبة للإنذار، بل تتوافر فيها البلاغة والتأثير اللازم لتؤثر في نفوس الناس، يقول تعالى: (وَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ قُرْآَنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِتُنْذِرَ أُمَّ الْقُرَى وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَتُنْذِرَ يَوْمَ الْجَمْعِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ فَرِيقٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَفَرِيقٌ فِي السَّعِيرِ) [الشورى: 7].

6- اللغة العربية وسيلة للتصديق، لأنها تتميز بتراكيب خاصة، ولو قام العلماء بتجارب لأدركوا ذلك، يقول تعالى: (وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ مُصَدِّقٌ لِسَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِيُنْذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ) [الأحقاف: 12].

7- اللغة العربية وسيلة من وسائل الإفصاح والتبيان، يقول تعالى: (وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنْزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ * عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِينَ * بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُبِينٍ) [الشعراء: 192-195].

8- اللغة العربية وسيلة من وسائل التفصيل والشرح: (وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآَنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آَيَاتُهُ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آَذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُولَئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِنْ مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ) [فصلت: 44].

9- وأخيراً اللغة العربية هي وسيلة من وسائل زيادة التعقل، يقول تعالى: (حم * وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ * إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآَنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ) [الزخرف: 1-3].

بعد كل هذه الحقائق هل نبدل هذه اللغة العظيمة بغيرها؟ وهنا أود أن أدعو إخوتي وأخواتي إلى الاهتمام باللغة العربية، في حديثهم وفي دعائهم فلا يدعوا الله باللغة العامية، بل نتعلم اللغة العربية ونتعلم دعاء الأنبياء ودعاء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وندعو به.


I'm note able to translate coz i'm really bad in English , but in short it says :
1 - it's Allah's Words , and we have Not to Distort it .
2- for every litter we read , we get hasanah , and the one hasanah will increase more than 10 times , so , if we recite the translation the litters Numbers will increase \ discrease .
3-Allah has kept his book from Distorting , if any one translates it as his own way the Qur'an will be Distorted .
4- if reading qur'an in many languages was allowed , we would get so many different meanings , every one would say he is the true , and then the problem will appear .

5-As Muslims , one religion , one book , one language to read it , all these thing will unify us , we'll be as one body .

6 - Arabic is the language for the best man ( Muhammad PBUH ) and it's the best language as well as it's the language which people in Heaven speak with and it's the language which our father Adam spoke with , it's the only language which has its own effects on the human brain .


So that we must perform prayers in Arabic
I think Arabic is difficult for you , but believe me it's really an interesting language .

I'll be happy to help you , i speak it very well masha Allah , it's my mother tongue :)
 

doctor38

Junior Member
Reading the Quran is only in Arabic. If you can't read or memorize the Quran than you can say Sobhan Allah, Alhadul lillah, Allah Akbar wa la Ilah ILL Allah. As it is mentioned By Shaikh Al Albany.

For Dua'. May be you should mix it up :) If you can say it in Arabic, it is better. If not, God does understand English
 

a_muslimah86

Hubbi Li Rabbi
Staff member
Ukhti..baraka Allaho feeki..please read the links below carefully..inshallah they will provide you with a good perspective especially that the explanations are from scholarly sources...

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/3471

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/11588

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/20953

Mind you dear sister..that it is a common misconception (for lack of a better word) amongst us Muslims that gaining Khushu'u or the spiritual connection/focus/satisfaction during salat is not attained *only* through *the words*..it is also attained through the consistent and correct maintenance of physical movements and placements of the body parts through out the prayer..as they cause what is termed by scholars as *sakina* (calmness/tranquility) which in turn provokes focus onto the words and thus form an overall hightened spiritual atmosphere of salat..so pay attention to this bit of the matter as well..and always remember that struggling to perfect your salat is a jihad of the nafs..so delve into it with the pure intention of coming out victorious :)

:wasalam:
 

zbhotto

Banned
A reason from common sense

Dear Brother/sister;
Allah (SWT) loves to hear His words from His slaves (male/female). Allah (SWT) enjoys it and therefore, He (SWT) emphasize so much so to read it, recite it. Utterance of every single letter of the Koran carries 10 good deeds (i.e., any voluntary good deed, feeding the poor people, giving shelter orphan, charity etc). Why would you miss the chance?

Reading Koran is the best among all and every voluntary good deeds (voluntary prayer, fasting, charity, whatsoever) an human being can do. Why Allah (SWT) put so emphasize to read and ponder of Koran? Because He(SWT) loves to hear the recitation of His (SWT) words in Koran. Since Allah (SWT) spoke in Arabic we must recite it in Arabic. Otherwise Allah (SWT) will not enjoy our recitation.
 

BigAk

Junior Member
Wow... Excellent question... It may be a good idea to recite each ayah followed by a second or two to contemplate the meaning in English while praying.. This will take some time in the beginning, but just like with everything else; eventually the mind will make the connection much faster as time goes. A month later, it will become very natural to know the meaning of the arabic words as your saying them.... The reason I know this will work is because I myself had to learn English. I recall in the beginning I used to have to think about the meaning of each word I said. Eventually, it has become second nature with time... Today, I just speak English effortlessly. If I can achieve such in English, you can achieve the same in Arabic... Be patient.. :D

May Allah reward you His Jannah.. Ameen.. :)

.
 

q8penpals

Junior Member
Wow... Excellent question... It may be a good idea to recite each ayah followed by a second or two to contemplate the meaning in English while praying.. This will take some time in the beginning, but just like with everything else; eventually the mind will make the connection much faster as time goes. A month later, it will become very natural to know the meaning of the arabic words as your saying them.... The reason I know this will work is because I myself had to learn English. I recall in the beginning I used to have to think about the meaning of each word I said. Eventually, it has become second nature with time... Today, I just speak English effortlessly. If I can achieve such in English, you can achieve the same in Arabic... Be patient.. :D

May Allah reward you His Jannah.. Ameen.. :)

.

sALAM

What I do is basically recite each section of the prayer in Arabic, and then pause for a moment and think about the meaning in English, then go to the next section and so on. I have lots of Arabic memorized, but very little of it learned. Even when I am speaking my minimal Arabic, I have to stop and think in English about each word or phrase.
 

JustaSisLovinLyf

passion for Islam
thanks everyone for your suggestions and opinions-they really help alot. I see a defininite need for arabic speaking muslims to reach out to converts and help learn this holy language of arabic ALOT more. Its really shocking to see the extreme lack of outreach to converts,new muslims, and non-muslims.

We should be taking the example of christian ministries which reach out to every facet of society alot more than muslims do. Id love to see alot more people able to find access to arabic classes and islamic classes-that would really enhance the sense of community and strengthen eman.
 
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