Could someone please tell me if it is written down that it is required to pray in Arabic? Someone on another forum is saying that because it is not Sharia that the prayers need to be in Arabic that it is definitely not required.
I am much too tired to sort out any petty arguments. Rather than trying to sort out who is right and who is wrong, it is easier to just remove the squabble and anything that got caught in the middle of it.
Sorry for the trouble...I know it was mainly Iqbal_soofi and I, but couldn't help it, its too tempting to let him rant on alone.
I was having lunch about a month ago with some collegues and one of them happens to be from Iran. I had not met him before so I said "assalam alaykum", thinking that because he is from Iran and he is muslim he would know what I meant. He did not say anything and my friend asked what I said so I explained it and then I said that he was supposed to have said "walaykum salam" back to me, and I stared at him waiting to hear why he didn't.
He told me he does not know Arabic and I said "then how do you pray" and he said "I am from Iran and we pray in Farsi".
I had no reason to believe that he lied so I asked my husband who lives in Egypt and he confirmed that people from Iran pray in Farsi.
Do you have proof that they do not or were you just using me as a verbal punching bag for your own amusement?
Sorry for getting upset before, but just because you had one experience you cannot believe this to be true about all of the iranians.
If they are Iranian, it doesn't mean they are always muslim. Especially in America, most are not muslim, but in Iran, over 90% are Muslim, and all pray in Arabic like it's supposed to be.
Sorry again, i didn't know the story behind it, it felt more like an insult.
It is a compulsory part of a salah being accepted to read 3 sentences from the Quran. (Fard)
Then, we have the Wajib recitations during salah aswell, which are very important.
Reading these surah's in another language is not reading the Quran, but merely an interpretation - Its always opinionated on the author how he wishes to convey the translation.
Translations can never be seen as true Quran, they should not be used in prayer - It just cannot be accepted.
I was not natively arabic, and I can say - If you actually cared, it definatly cant b hard to memorise some sentences to comply with the requirements - Its not neccessary to memorise a lot you know? So lets not exaggerate that Islam was made for arabs alone. Too much exaggeration.
Anyway, I cannot see any reason why it would ever be allowed to read it in another language.
It is a compulsory part of a salah being accepted to read 3 sentences from the Quran. (Fard)
Then, we have the Wajib recitations during salah aswell, which are very important.
Reading these surah's in another language is not reading the Quran, but merely an interpretation - Its always opinionated on the author how he wishes to convey the translation.
Translations can never be seen as true Quran, they should not be used in prayer - It just cannot be accepted.
I was not natively arabic, and I can say - If you actually cared, it definatly cant b hard to memorise some sentences to comply with the requirements - Its not neccessary to memorise a lot you know? So lets not exaggerate that Islam was made for arabs alone. Too much exaggeration.
Anyway, I cannot see any reason why it would ever be allowed to read it in another language.
Let's talk about the facts sincerely.
It was initially assumed that Arabic will replace the native languages wherever Islam would be spread, which means that Arabic would become the common language of all Muslims. But this assumption proved wrong. Native languages couldn't be changed with the religious languages. There're other factors (mostly economic) that change the native languages to some extent. But religious people are so much sentimental that they're not ready to accept this fact.
Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch.
...... I said that he was supposed to have said "walaykum salam" back to me, and I stared at him waiting to hear why he didn't.
He told me he does not know Arabic and I said "then how do you pray" and he said "I am from Iran and we pray in Farsi".
.....
I m shocked that an adult Muslim does not know how to say Walaykum as Salaam. Do we have to be expert in Arabic to say 2/3 few Arabic words/ Islamic greetings ?
May be , he did not understand ur accent & may be , he was not fluent in English & could not explain the matter.
May be , he said , Iranians offer the Dua/supplication in Farsi ( it's allowed to offer Dua in mother tongue ). But Muslims must recite Sura Fatiha ( chapter 1...first sura ) & at least 3 more lines from ohter part in all Salat/namaz.
Is it possible for u to ask him again to explain the matter ? Have translator with u .....if possible , of course
Last edited by Muslim Woman; 04-05-2007 at 04:47 PM.
Christ will never be proud to reject to be a slave to God .....holy Quran, chapter Women , 4: 172
It was initially assumed that Arabic will replace the native languages wherever Islam would be spread, which means that Arabic would become the common language of all Muslims. But this assumption proved wrong. Native languages couldn't be changed with the religious languages. There're other factors (mostly economic) that change the native languages to some extent. But religious people are so much sentimental that they're not ready to accept this fact.
I am just curious - who/when/where and how were these assumptions made? do you have any source to back that?
From what I understood, the reason Islam could spead this fast is because of the diversity and acceptance of different culture and languages
I m shocked that an adult Muslim does not know how to say Walaykum as Salaam. Do we have to be expert in Arabic to say 2/3 few Arabic words/ Islamic greetings ?
Yeah... and "Assalamualaikum/Wa'alaikumussalam" are considered as Malay language greetings too....
I think all Muslim languages incorporate these greetings in their dictionaries as part of their languages..
I hope the prayers are going well for you sister. Allaah knows best, but for any act of worship to be accepted - it has to be according to how the Prophet peace be upon him performed that act of worship, and it has to be sincerely for the sake of Allaah alone.
We also know that Qur'an cannot be Qur'an unless it is in the arabic tongue, anything in another language is simply a translation. So reading a translation won't get you the reward of reciting Qur'an. A believer may get rewarded for understanding the Qur'an [by reading the translation] - but reciting the Qur'an in arabic has 10 rewards for each letter i.e. the letters Alif Laam Meem = 30 rewards, because there are 3 letters.
The way of the prophet was to recite Qur'an in arabic, and the muslims who came from Persia, Syria etc. all over the muslim world learnt arabic in order to recite Qur'an. So it may be a requirement for it to be accepted. Allaah knows best.
So G-d does not accept prayers in langauges other than arabic? Talk about an Arab ego boost.
So G-d does not accept prayers in langauges other than arabic? Talk about an Arab ego boost.
I think you missed out on most of the other posts and picked on this one. If you read through the messages in this thread, you might get a better idea.
So G-d does not accept prayers in langauges other than arabic? Talk about an Arab ego boost.
I think you misunderstood this. I've been to a Jewish Synagogue before and they did their worship services in Hebrew. can we say Israeli ego boost? No we can't b/c this is part of your religion, your history and your ancestral tradition.
Prayer is the wrong word to use here because we are referring to Salah the actual worship of Allah, The Most Exalted in Islam. This is Allah's right upon us thus it must be performed properly and according to the Sunnah, the way of Beloved Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him). Prayer as in Du'a is said after preforming Salah. This is when we usually ask for something, similar to the common understanding of prayer. And this can be in any language. This has nothing to do with Arab ego boost. As a non-Arab I think Arabic is the most beautiful and eloquent language and it is the language of our Beloved (peace and mercy be upon him).
So G-d does not accept prayers in langauges other than arabic? Talk about an Arab ego boost.
From what I've heard ... a Torah, is not a Torah if it's written in other language but Hebrew.... if it's true.... it just the same rule with our Holy Koran...
We want the authenticity of the words of God. When we recite His words in our "salah" we want it to be original.
But for "dua" prayer (any prayers that dont involve those 13 movements we did in Salah)... you can even say your prayer in Martian....
there is a certain power in people of the same religion all over the world praying the same prayers in the same language over hundreds of years.
jews and muslims share this. it's cool.
each man thinks of his own fleas as gazelles
question authority
there is a certain power in people of the same religion all over the world praying the same prayers in the same language over hundreds of years.
jews and muslims share this. it's cool.
They too make fools out of their followers. They don't want their followers to bother what is being read to them. They want the followers to be obedient and to be submissive. In this way they make them do anything in the name of religion. A few privilleged classes benefit from the majority in this way. That's why they're also going towards a downfall like Muslims. On the other hand, people form sensible nations want to know the meanings of each word and each command they're asked to follow. Therefore, it's hard to mislead the sensible people because they know what they're following.
Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch.
They too make fools out of their followers. They don't want their followers to bother what is being read to them. They want the followers to be obedient and to be submissive. In this way they make them do anything in the name of religion. A few privilleged classes benefit from the majority in this way. That's why they're also going towards a downfall like Muslims. On the other hand, people form sensible nations want to know the meanings of each word and each command they're asked to follow. Therefore, it's hard to mislead the sensible people because they know what they're following.
Your reply is very logical and makes much sense. It would be true except for a few points that are overlooked.
1. Islam does not ask people to revert without knowlege as to what Islam is. In fact just the opposite, a person is required to have suffiecient knowledge, in order to say the Shahada with pure sincerity. we are constantly reminded of the need to always read and learn.
2. How do you measure sensible? If Allah(swt) is the only thing of lasting importance, isn't it more sensible to give up the pursuit of earthly gain if it interfers with the pursuit of Allah(swt)
3. We are not very biased. All of Mankind gains from the works of a Muslim, if he is following Islam.
They too make fools out of their followers. They don't want their followers to bother what is being read to them. They want the followers to be obedient and to be submissive. In this way they make them do anything in the name of religion. A few privilleged classes benefit from the majority in this way. That's why they're also going towards a downfall like Muslims. On the other hand, people form sensible nations want to know the meanings of each word and each command they're asked to follow. Therefore, it's hard to mislead the sensible people because they know what they're following.
so would you say that sikhism/sufism is the only religion that got it right?
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