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Fatwa CenterShe wants to become Muslim, but only knows English
Question
I believe in Allah and Islam and want to follow. The problem is I am born English and have to teach myself about Islam I don't speak any Arabic and I would like to learn. How do I do this as I can only pray in English to Allah? He understands as a Muslim I would like to pray the right way. Please tell me how.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Learning Arabic is not a condition for someone to be a true Muslim or for the obligatory actions of worship to be accepted. However, there are things that someone has to learn because the prayer will not be valid otherwise:
- The reading of Surah Al-Fatihah.
- The reading of the wording of Tashahud.
- The reading of the blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam).
- Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar).
- Tasleem (saying ‘Assalam Alaikum’ at the end of prayer).
These are easy matters for whom Allah made it easy. You can learn them in one week. The most important of which is Surah Al-Fatihah. Imam Bukhari and Muslim reported that Ubada Bin Samit narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “The prayer of every person is not valid except if he/she reads Surah Al-Fatihah.”
Takbeer and Tasleem could be learnt in a short moment, as they are composed only of the expressions: Allahu Akbar, and Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah.
As regards the obligation of reading Tashahud and invoking blessings on the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), it is a matter which is differed upon among the scholars. There is no harm if you delay this until you learn Al-Fatihah, Al-Takbeer and Tasleem. You have to seek the help of Muslim females who preceeded you to Islam, as well as the help of Islamic centres.
We ask Allah, the Exalted, to enable you to do good, and to accept your good deeds. He is the One who guides to the straight path.
You have to know that if you are completely incapable of learning what we have mentioned, then Allah will not hold you responsible for it. In this case, you can pray with whatever you can say of Tasbeeh and Takbeer.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {So keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him as much as you can;…}[64:16]. Allah also Says (interpretation of meaning): {Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope….}[2:286].
Allah knows best.
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