I want to become a Muslim... but I don't speak Arabic!

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Just_A_Girl13

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Peace be with you,

I am a young Christian woman, but I want to revert to Islam. My first language is English and my second language is French. However, I don't know any Arabic. I don't even know the alphabet! However, I do know that the salat must be performed in Arabic, so I'm not sure what to do. Is there some place on the internet where I can learn? What would you brothers and sisters recommend I do?

Thank you! :)
 
Also, how necessary is it to be able to read and write Arabic? Which should I focus more energy on?

Thank you! :)
 
Good questions as I too am curious about this. I have been listening to lectures on the Qu'ran in Arabic and English and have picked up a few words and phrases in Arabic.

I still can't read the first letter of it though.
 
Just_A_Girl13 said:
Peace be with you,

I am a young Christian woman, but I want to revert to Islam. My first language is English and my second language is French. However, I don't know any Arabic. I don't even know the alphabet! However, I do know that the salat must be performed in Arabic, so I'm not sure what to do. Is there some place on the internet where I can learn? What would you brothers and sisters recommend I do?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

How about I share with you my story. I reverted to Islam but did not know Arabic. But this has done nothing to decrease my faith.

Learning Arabic is recommended because the Qur'an's is in Arabic. No translation can exactly convey the meaning that can be found in the Arabic.

But that's for people who want to go deep into religious studies.

For beginners learning the essentials......namely Sura Fatiha and the Arabic words that you need to recite in your prayer should be sufficient.

Rome was not built in a day. So you have to take it easy and learn at your pace and according to your capacity. Some can learn faster, some take longer times. Don't compare your progress with others. Just stay focused on sincerely doing the best you can.

Lastly, I'd like to add that people desire to learn Arabic in order to GAIN a better understanding of the meaning of the Qur'anic verses. But along the way, they forget why they started out learning Arabic....and begin to think that learning Arabic in itself is an act that would fetch them rewards. No, on the contrary, it is when they gain understanding AND then practice what they learn that they get the rewards.

So one must remember why we set out to do something and what is the real purpose behind doing it.

The real purpose for learning anything is to gain understanding.

Because if you don't understand what you've learned, how will you be able to put your knowledge into practice?

So as long as you understand the principles of Islam and the meaning of the Qur'an, it doesn't matter at all if you don't know Arabic.

I don't.....though I must confess that I've memorized suras from the Qur'an over the years.
 
Thank you sister, that puts my mind at ease. :) I was also wondering because of your signature, what is Tajweed? Is that something very essential that I should learn?
 
Just_A_Girl13 said:
I was also wondering because of your signature, what is Tajweed? Is that something very essential that I should learn?
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Let me give you a hug! I can see how eager you are to LEARN. lol.

Tajweed is the proper recitation of the Qur'an. Or correct pronunciation during recitation. It is a set of rules which dictate how the Qur'an should be read.

But I don't think you need to concern yourself with it right now. It's hard for those of us whose mother tongue isn't Arabic.

However, I've got some good news for you.....it's good news for me too...:statisfie

We get a double reward because it's more difficult for us. :wub:

`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
 
Thank you, you are very helpful :) Let me give you a hug, I appreciate your help so much!

Peace be with you.
 
Just_A_Girl13 said:
Peace be with you,

I am a young Christian woman, but I want to revert to Islam. My first language is English and my second language is French. However, I don't know any Arabic. I don't even know the alphabet! However, I do know that the salat must be performed in Arabic, so I'm not sure what to do. Is there some place on the internet where I can learn? What would you brothers and sisters recommend I do?

Thank you! :)
Click to expand...

Don't let the fact you do not know arabic prevent you from reverting, what is most important is that you believe that there is no deity worthy of worship except God and he sends messengers to convey his will, and the final one of those messengers was Muhammed (pbuh) if you believe this then you're pratically a Muslim. You just have to take the shahaddah.

You can learn the arabic for the prayers slowly

Check out this link, the very first video on the page teaches how to pray.

http://www.kalamullah.com/new-muslims.html

But untill you learn the arabic, there is an easy way for you to pray, an easy way without having to say as much arabic, you can do this untill you learn the full arabic. I will try and find out how.


"If you have not yet learned the manner and characteristics of performing the prayer (i.e. at least the movements and positions), appended to this message is a description from which you can learn. What is requried from you for the time being is to say in the beginning of the prayer and between each movement between positions "Allaahu ak-bar" (a glorification of Allaah). While standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting, you should say "subhaan allaah wal-hamdu lillaah wa-laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar." (Glory be to Allaah, and praise and thanks be to Allaah, and there is no god but Allaah, and Allaah is the most Exalted and Great.) Then conclude the prayer by turning your head to the right then left, each time saying "as-salaamu alaikum."
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http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/378/reading salah in english

This way of performing salaat is permissible for you until you can learn and memorize what should be said in each movement and position of the salaat"

If you're not sure how to pronounce the arabic words in the above mentioned quote, I can find an audio recording for you.
 
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Assalaamu Alaaykum

masha'Allaah at this thread!

I myself im still learning how to speak Arabic :-\ i must say though it is a very easy language to learn..though some may disagree.

Im not sure what to say as I feel the question has been answered and also because i really wanted to reply to this thread for some reason :-\

But if you have anymore questions please continue to ask..

.. peace ..
 
:sl:

A very, very long time ago, when I was a mualaf (reverts are called "mualaf" for the first 90 days and are entitled to special consideration and support including financial aid, etc), I learned to perform salaah from an Indian friend who made it so simple for me to get started.

All I had to do was learn the Fatihah (never mind that my pronunciation was atrocious - it still is atrocious) and precede the ruku and sujud etc with "Allahu akbar". Six years later, an ustaz asked me to recite the tahayyat. I asked him what it was! Seems like my well-meaning friend had totally forgotten to tell me about it and I performed salaah for six years without saying tahayat.

Somehow I managed to survive and I am still trying my best to practice as much of Islam as I humanly can. So don't worry too much about your Arabic. Just go ahead and perform salaah as best as you can.

Let me tell you another story.

Once when I was working in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the month of Ramadan. I broke my fast at a mushalla near where I stayed. The other members of the jemaah were non-Arabic-speaking Muslims. We would perform our Maghrib salaah with just a kopiah (skull cap) on our heads, dressed in our long-sleeved shirts and slacks (our neckties were stuffed in our pockets).

After Isha, we did tadarus Quran (reciting the Quran). Each of us could barely mumble through even one ayat. We could hardly spell any of the words and none of us knew any better than the others. I really did not know whether to laugh or to cry. Of course, when it was my turn, I passed. The Arabic script looked, at that time, just like a bunch of bean sprouts to me (still look like bean sprouts to me now but I can make out some of the words already).

btw Allah promised that whosever reads the Quran will be rewarded and those who can barely read Arabic but still try to read the Quran will be doubly rewarded - once for reading the Quran and once more for trying even though he can hardly read Arabic.

So take heart and rejoice in the blessings of Allah. May Allah give you the strength to persevere and find victory. Ameen.
 
Peace be with you brothers and sisters,

Thank you for all your help. I plan to begin learning how to make salat as soon as I can. Since you are all so kind and welcoming, I'd like to ask you another question. The nearest masjid is about an hour away from my home and I can't drive. Unfortunately, my mother cannot drive me there either because she works very long shifts. What should I do? Can I begin by making salat and following the teachings of the Qu'ran without attending mosque?
 
Peace be unto you too....

Just_A_Girl13 said:
Can I begin by making salat and following the teachings of the Qu'ran without attending mosque?
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Yes, of course you can. There's one thing that will be very comforting for you to know. Women are encouraged to pray in their homes. It is not an obligation on them to go to the masjid.

This is an obligation only for men.

Alhamdulillahir rabbil al ameen! .....You should learn these words, sister.....it means "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds"!
 
Another thing is, I'm very young, just a teenager. I want to say my shahadah very soon, but I was wondering if there are rules about who may revert to Islam. Am I too young? Do I have to be an adult before I may revert?

Thank you, I so appreciate all your help. Peace be upon you.
 
^You are never to young to accept the truth.

The blessing is that when you do 'revert' it means you have returned back, so in other words you are never too young to return back home, and when you do all your sins are deleted from your past whether they are major or minor. Also ofcourse im sure you are aware when one does take the shahadah they are convinced that Islaam is the truth, and they are prepared to obey their creator, another blessing is that what ever your creator commands you to do is only for your own benefit , i mean that Allaah will not benefit from this but you will. Like achieving good health, our creator wants us to eat what is best for us, though it will be of no use to him, but beneficial towards oneself. Like a mother wants the best for us, to back off the sweets or in some cases chocolate :-\..We then leave the sweets to please our mother that we are taking good care of oursef , in the same way we please Allaah ..so just imagine how much Allaah wants from us, our creator and indeed he is most wise and most mercyful..
 
Just_A_Girl13 said:
Another thing is, I'm very young, just a teenager. I want to say my shahadah very soon, but I was wondering if there are rules about who may revert to Islam. Am I too young? Do I have to be an adult before I may revert?

Thank you, I so appreciate all your help. Peace be upon you.
Click to expand...

Peace be with you to sister

Firstly it is clear that Allah has given you guidance out of so many people for he guides who he wants. It is wonderdul that you are wanting to accept Islam at a young age as you can learn and adapt to changes better at an earlier age and also learn quicker as you have a young and fresh mind.

There are no age limits to when you can or can't accept Islam for it is better to accept it as soon as one realises and accepts the oneness of Allah and the finality of the last Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him)

Life is uncertain and there are no guarantees that we will be alive tomorrow so therefore one should never delay proclaiming the shahada for death awaits nobody. If one is certain in ones heart that there is NO worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the servant and mesenger of Allah then why not say it with the tongue and affirm it in the heart now?


So say: Ash hadu Allaah ilaaha illallaahu Wa ash hadu annaa Muhammadan Abduhoo wara sooloo

There is NO worthy of worship Except Allah and Muhammad is the servant and messenger of Allah


It is as simple as that. Faith comes from the heart so if you believe the above then there is no logic in delaying it any further.

You should also try and locate a Muslim sisters circle or Masjid which caters for new Muslim sisters as there are such group meetings in most places. If you cannot lkocate one then we can try and locate one for you inshallah. That way can meet Allah good sisters who can help and guide you and teach you what you need to know about Islam and how to recite Arabic etc and at the same time get involved in Islamic activities, learning about Islam, giving dawah etc

Take one step at a time. Your first step should be to learn how to pray Salaah as it is the second pillar of Islam and the most important thing we Muslims practise in our daily lives. You should really be getting taught how to pray Salaah face to face with a sister but in the meanwhile you can learn how to pray using this book which is free for you to download as a PDF document and you can also print it out. It contains everything you need to know of the basics of Islam as well how to pray and what to say in prayer, how to do ablution, ghusl etc as well as stories of the Prophets and much more. It is a brilliant read:


Islam Beliefs and Teachings



http://www.islamicbulletin.org/free_downloads/kids/Islam_teachings.pdf


Here you will find many more resources on the prayer


http://www.islamicbulletin.org/services/all_ebooks_p3.aspx#link10


Free Islamic E books and Resources

http://www.islamicboard.com/discover-islam/134306218-free-e-books-resources-islam.html#post1432248
 http://www.islamicbulletin.org/free_downloads/prayer/Entire_Salaah_Book.pdf

After that then gradually build up your knowledge of Islam starting from the basics and then you can build up slowly at a pace you can handle. You will love learning about Islam as evrything you read will make so much sense to you and will increase your faith and love and closeness to Allah.

My sister no doubt you will experience trials and hardships through your journey in life especially through prejudice and the narrow mindedness of some people that you may come across in life. But it is best to ignore such people and be the best example you can to other non Muslims and Muslims alike as you are now representing Islam.

Remember that worship of Allah in your youth is the best worship anyone can do in their life so make the best of this precious time now before it is gone as there are so many of us who waste our youth and then regret it forever. Also there is no guarantee you or i will live for another day as death is uncertain.

So make your focus to please Allah everyday in everything that you do and to work for the hereafter rather than for this world which is so temporary. A person who chases this world then the world will go further from his grasp and he will lose this world and the hereafter but the person who chases the hereafter will gain this world and the hereafter.

If you need help with anything at all or need any questions answered or anymore resources then please do not hesitate to ask.
 
Salam alaykum/Peace with you;

don´t worry if you don´t know arabic. One brother from Bangladesh sended me before this link for studing it (as my arabic is still very worse after being muslim 16 years :embarrass ). It starts from basic things like letters:

http://www.lqtoronto.com/videodl.html

He told me if I follow it, it helps me a lot understand language of Quran (and understand also words of prays).

Lessons are by english. Just start Book1 PartA1
 
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Just_A_Girl13 said:
Peace be with you,

I am a young Christian woman, but I want to revert to Islam. My first language is English and my second language is French. However, I don't know any Arabic. I don't even know the alphabet! However, I do know that the salat must be performed in Arabic, so I'm not sure what to do. Is there some place on the internet where I can learn? What would you brothers and sisters recommend I do?

Thank you! :)
Click to expand...

Assalam Alaikom sister,
I thought u have a real problem :)

I have a VERY GOOD site for u, u can read the quran, in Arabic, English, English but in Arabic and word by word.

http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp

The other good site I found is:

http://www.quran.com

U can find translations in many languages, and u can write in the search field an Arabic word but in English, and u will get the whole verses written in Arabic with English letters.

Inshallah will be useful and easy for u.

BRMM
 
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Just_A_Girl13 said:
Another thing is, I'm very young, just a teenager. I want to say my shahadah very soon, but I was wondering if there are rules about who may revert to Islam. Am I too young? Do I have to be an adult before I may revert?

Thank you, I so appreciate all your help. Peace be upon you.
Click to expand...

Mashallah, Allaho Akbar
You are young with your age but very wise with your mind.

If you heart wants to do so, just do it with your self first. Allah is enough as a witness.
Q48:28 "It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as Witness".

Let us know the happy news inshallah :)

Your old brother
BRMM
 
brmm said:
Assalam Alaikom sister,
I thought u have a real problem :)

I have a VERY GOOD site for u, u can read the quran, in Arabic, English, English but in Arabic and word by word.

corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp (do not use www before the site name, I do not have the right to post web links)

The other good site I found is:

quran.com

U can find translations in many languages, and u can write in the search field an Arabic word but in English, and u will get the whole verses written in Arabic with English letters.

Inshallah will be useful and easy for u.

BRMM
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Excellent. This will come in handy for me too...
 

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