Arabic

Arabic (العَرَبِيَّة‎, al-ʻarabiyyah, or عَرَبِيّ‎) or is a Semitic language that first emerged in the 1st to 4th centuries CE. It is now the lingua franca of the Arab world. It is named after the Arabs, a term initially used to describe peoples living in the area bounded by Mesopotamia in the east and the Anti-Lebanon mountains in the west, in Northwestern Arabia and in the Sinai Peninsula.

84694

Wife . Islam . Arabic . Japan

My wife and I live in Japan and she is a Japanese convert to Islam. We are expecting a baby to whom I was thinking of giving a Japanese name. Is that allowed or are Muslim only allowed Arabic names?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 months ago

It is ok to give the baby a Japanese name.

Congratulations and best wishes with the birth!

76244

Arabic . Du'a (Supplication)

Is it better to read a Dua in Arabic without understanding it or to read it in translation? Is there any difference in the Sawab?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 months ago

Understanding the meaning of Du'a is better than reading with out understanding.

Sawab depends on the intention and degree of the sincerity and dedication, not merely on the language.

Wassalam.

75978

Arabic . Salah (Prayers)

I find that when I perform my prayers in Arabic it feels like a chore and I remain unfocused and hurry to finish them, whereas when I recite them in English translation the effects are the opposite. Can I pray in English or in both Arabic and English?

The prayers (Salah) must be recited in Arabic as the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) recited and ordered all Muslims: Pray as you saw me praying صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي

If you mean by prayers the supplications (Du'a), it is allowed to recite Du'a in your preferable language. Even you are allowed to read within the Salah supplications in your own language, but that supplications should be along with Arabic parts of Salah.

In short, Salah must be in Arabic but Du'a can be in your referable language.

Wassalam.

Arabic . Salah (Prayers)

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 5 months ago

as salam alaikum

a translation of the Qur'an is not the Qur'an therefore it is necessary to recite it in the Arabic language during the salat. Other intentional extra-words would invalidate the prayer. It is advisable to try as much as possible to take familiarity with the Qur'an in order to always feel in harmony with it.

With prayers for your success.

73573

Arabic

If I don't yet know Arabic, how would I pray if I didn't understand what I was saying?

It is good to understand what you say in prayers, and that can be easily achieved by translating the prayers sentences to your language. Nevertheless, prayers are obligatory on every Muslim whether he or she understands Arabic or not.

Wassalam.

71259

Arabic . Sunni-Shi'a . Surat al-Fatihah

What is the correct way to pronounce the Arabic letter that comes after Su'ad? Our Sunni brothers pronounce it like "Duaad" whereas the Shia tend to pronounce it like "Zuaad"? Does mispronouncing it change the meaning of words such as in Surah al-Fatiha?

https://youtu.be/lgN4JlGwsUM?t=54

Some people pronounce it differently due to their accent or what they heard growing up. For instance, in Persian, one says "Ramazan" when talking and not "Ramadan" because it is how it is said in the language, just as in English people often say "Izlaam" not "Islaam". For things not involving Qur'an, it doesn't really matter.

However, when reciting Qur'an, it is good to try to pronounce the letters as correctly as possible. If a person is genuinely unable to pronounce a letter correctly, it is ok, but they should try.

61060

Arabic . Qur'an

I am trying to learn to read in Arabic so I can truly understand the faith. But how do I go about doing this? Who do I talk to and are there tutors who can teach me how to understand what I'm reciting in the Qur'an?

as salam alaikum

learning Arabic language to truly understand your faith is praiseworthy and highly recommended. You can check the available courses in your area or even online in this regard. However to better reach your aim you should try to give preference to "Classical Arabic" or "Qur'anic Arabic" courses rather than "Modern Standard Arabic".

With prayers for your success.

60954

Arabic . Language . Marja' . Taqlid

Can a person become a Marja' of Taqleed even if he cannot speak fluent Arabic and cannot deliver speeches or sermons in that language? What are all the essential prerequisites for this position?

The Marja' of Taqleed must be the most or one of the most knowledgeable scholars in Islamic knowledge who has:

1. Full understanding of the verses of the Holy Quran with the Hadeeths related to the meaning of Quranic verses.

2. Full understanding of all the Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) and his Holy Progeny (Ahlul Bayt)(AS) including the narrations of different meanings and choosing the meaning which is more authentic.

3. Full understanding of Arabic language which is the language of Quran and Hadeeths. With out full understanding of Arabic language the scholar will not be able to reach full understanding of the meanings of Quranic verses and Hadeeths.
Many non Arab scholars understand the Arabic language very well but do not speak it fluently due to no practice or little practice. This does not harm their ability to be a Marja'.

4. The ability and the practice of deriving the Islamic rules from its evidence, which is called Ejtihad. The Mujtahid is the highly learned Islamic scholar who is able to derive the Islamic rule of every matter in Shariah from its evidence in the Four Islamic sources which are: Quran, Hadeeth, Aql ( Reason) and Ejmaa'( consensus).

5. The high degree of God fearing (Taqwa) as one of the most crucial conditions of the Marja' of Taqleed as mentioned in the Hadeeth narrated from Imam Al-Askari (AS) ( Wasa'il al-Shia, Vol.18, P.131).

6. Being male born from valid marriage طيب الولادة.

The ability of giving speech in Arabic is not a condition of A Marja' as far as he has the all the above conditions.

Wassalam.

60603

Arabic . Qur'anic Verse . Meaning

Why has "Fi" been used instead of "Li" in "Mawaddata Fil Qurba" in the Qur'anic verse (42:23) of Mawaddah while "Fi" means "in" and "Li" means "for" in Arabic?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 12 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. According to Zamakhshari in his commentary al-Kashshaf, using the pronoun fi gives the meaning of the Family of the Prophet (saw) being the place of established love, whereas the pronoun li only would explain who the love was for. Fi therefore gives a greater meaning.

May you always be successful

53267

Arabic . Language . Salah (Prayers)

Can we pray Namaz in our mother tongue rather than in Arabic as praying in our own language will allow us to give more attention and concentration to what we recite?

Bismillāh

Thank you for your question. The obligatory prayers have to be said in Arabic.

May you always be successful.

51506

Language . Arabic

Is it allowed to pray using your own language instead of Arabic?

If you mean by pray, the prayers to supplicate and seek from Allah, then the answer is: Yes, it is allowed to supplicate and pray to Allah in your own language.

But if you mean by pray the Prayers (Salah or Namaz), then the answer is: NO, because Salah or Namaz must be performed in Arabic as the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) ordered all Muslims (Pray as you saw me praying)صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي .

Wassalam