Can I pray in English?

To ask a question concerning something someone else brought up - some people learn to say the words but not the meaning, would it then be ok to make the prayer bilingual while the person is learning? By that, I mean the person recite the words in arabic and then in english so that the person knows exactly what they are saying? It makes a prayer longer, but it's another way of learning.

Would something like this be ok?
 
When I was learning my prayers, I told a scholar at al Azhar about my prayer cards and how I could pray the arabic aloud and recite the english silently in my heart. The scholar gave his ok. Of course, I can't remember who the scholar was, bah.

This would probably be a good question to ask scholars on different fatwa websites.

From my own limited reasoning and from what I know of prayer, it is often emphasized to think about what you are praying. For example, in fatiha, when you "Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem" show us the straight path, actually ask Allah (swt) this conciously in your mind. You're not just reciting words, you're asking the Creator to help you. Another example is when the imam is reciting part of the quran and it talks about hellfire, ask Allah (swt) to keep you from it, when the quran talks about Allah's mercy, ask Allah (swt) for His mercy, etc.

So, it would stand to reason that if you don't think in arabic, you have to think in english (or whatever your native language is). What better way to think about the words then to recite them in english in your heart? I would guess that reciting the english outloud would not be advisable, as our contemplation of the prayer is in our hearts and not on our tongues.
 
Further to what Sister Janaan said above --- you can learn any surah not just the al-fatiha in both Arabic and English and its meaning and why and how it was revealed etc ---OUTSIDE of salah as well.

This way through repetition and a thorough study of the surah -- you understand it more and remember it more in salah, and at the same time are gaining more rewards/ good deeds.
 
caroline said:
Pardon me. Allah is the creator of all the universe from the micro to the macro and he is the one who created the tongue and the ability to speak and all languages. I'm POSITIVE he understands English and that he understands and knows the heart. I am absolutely opposed to the idea that God only accepts prayers in Arabic. That limits Allah, and He has no limits -- either to his understanding or his compassion and mercy.

Respectfully
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peace

no doubt Allah ta'ala understands all languages and prayer as understood by Christians can be said in our own tongue. However, the 5 daily prayers are better described as 'worship' and must be said in Arabic. The Prophet pbuh said 'pray as you see me pray' and so he taught us the words and actions of the 5 prayers. I believe that when in prostration with the forehead on the ground, after saying "Subhana rabbi al 'ala" (Glory be to my Lord the Most High), one can add other words of supplication and praise in Arabic or the mother tongue. This is when we are nearest to God so some people feel moved to say their own words in their mother tongue at this point.
 
I've also had the hardest time with Arabic. I can hear the words in my head until I actually speak them and then I get tongue tied.
 
Dear brothers and sisters, Salam alikom
I read all what you wrote here about praying in other languages than Arabic. But please accept that praying the 5 daily prayers are only to be done in Arabic. The reason behind this Allah SWT knows better, but as a Muslim we must understand that if we pray in different language, then how can we understand each other if we pray all together? How can you understand the Imam when praying behind him? If you do not understand the prayer in one tongue (Arabic), then what will happen if the Imam says SUBHANA RABIL AZIM or SUBHANA RABIL ALA, what will mean this for you? If you don’t understand the meaning of them in Arabic, then the Jamaha will be in total discordances. When the discordance happens, the prayer will be not any more as it should. Also if we do not praying in Arabic, then there will be a lot of misunderstanding and misinterpretation of what we doing or saying in our prayer. The result will be that our prayer is not done correctly and most important it wouldn’t be accepted by our Allah SWT.
So please don’t discord and making division in the way we’re praying. Allah SWT knows, what is best for us, so please do what Allah SWT and his beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH asks us to do.
Also do you thing that Arabic is the mother tongue of all born Muslims? The answer is; absolutely not. But they have to learn Arabic and understand the meaning of it, in their respective tongues.
Regarding you proposition to make the prayer bilingual while the person is learning? I must said, is not permissible. Because you will be disturbed in your prayer, and when you’re disturb then the establishment of liaison between you and Allah SWT will break up, at the result your prayer would be not accepted or rewarded.
Myself, I’m not an Arab speaking, but the love for Allah SWT and his Prophet PBUH give me the ability and power to learn and understand Arabic. So please why not scarify our time to learn Arabic (which is the choice of Allah SWT for communication between him and his slaves).
Finally we must give much importance to obeying the Command of Allah SWT and his prophet PBUH, and also to gain some rewards for our akhirat.
Ok brothers and sisters, I hope you will thing very well and do practicing you religious as by the teaching of our beloved Prophet PBUH.

Note: Please distinguish the PRAYER from the DUA. You should pray in Arabic, but you can make DUAS in your mother tongue!!!
Jazakom Allah-o-Khairan
Wasalaam
 
Wa alaykum assalaam,

The salat scared the heck out of me at first because of all the Arabic. Now, alhamdulillah it's easy as pie. I've been a Muslim for about a year and just recently finished memorising everything. Just take your time, keep praying for guidance and insha'Allah it will come.

Wassalaam,

Abdur-Rahman
 
:sl:
:Alhumdill

NOTHING IS IMPOSIBLE, WITH THE HELP OF ALLAH SWT WE CAN DO OR LEARN ALL.
:inshallah
abdulrahman114 said:
Wa alaykum assalaam,

The salat scared the heck out of me at first because of all the Arabic. Now, alhamdulillah it's easy as pie. I've been a Muslim for about a year and just recently finished memorising everything. Just take your time, keep praying for guidance and insha'Allah it will come.

Wassalaam,

Abdur-Rahman
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