Can We Use Other Than The Language Of Arabic When

[laian]

Bismillah,


Assalamu alaikum Shaunee and everyone


Alhamdulillah, Allah says in the Qur'an that he has made the Qur'an easy to understand and to remember. Allah says it, it must be true.


Shaunee, I understand your concern, but you must understand two things. First, the Qur'an is the word of God, and it is revealed in Arabic. Therefore, the English translated words are not the words of Allah, only the Arabic words are the real words of Allah. It is important to use the Arabic when making the salat, especially because as Anyabwile mentioned the Arabic words have much more meaning and significance than the English words ever could.


Now if you understand why it is important to use the Arabic during salat, then you should understand that the Qur'an truly is easy to understand and remember, as Allah promised.


When I first converted I knew absolutely no Arabic, expect the basic bismillah, alhamdulillah, etc. Within one week of converting I had the entire salat memorized in Arabic, including surah al-ikhlas, and I knew all the meanings. SubhanAllah, it was SOOOO easy! Alhamdulillah!


I'm not saying it has to be that easy for everyone, and it probably won't be. Allah blessed me, but he will make it easy for everyone as much as they need. SubhanAllah Anyabwile has most of the prayer memorized and he feels the benefit of saying the Arabic. InshaAllah I hope you too will soon feel that benefit.


I will tell you how I memorized the salat so quickly, and inshaAllah maybe this technique will help you.


I made flash cards for each section of the prayer on regular 3x5 cards. On the left side of the card I wrote the transliteration of the Arabic (Arabic sounds in English letters), and on the right side of the card I wrote the English translation. During my salat, I <b>never</b> said the English translation, <b>only</b> the Arabic, but by glancing at the translation as I read it was easy to take in the English meaning at the same time as saying the Arabic.


The flashcards also helped because at the end of a section, such as al-fatihah and then another surah, I could write a note to myself like "say Allahu Akbar with hands up and then bow"


This way was so easy for me because as I said, I never said the English, only the Arabic, so my mouth and tongue and mind got used to sounds of the Arabic, but I also had the English translation right next to it so I was learning the meanings right along with it.


If you think about it, in one week you will have said the Arabic needed for the prayer 119 times -- that's the number of rakahs you will make in one week with the fard prayers. That's alot of repetition!


So Shaunee, please don't feel discouraged about learning the complex and intimidating language of Arabic..... rather, this is both a test from Allah (for which you will get great reward inshaAllah) and an opportunity to come closer to Him by offering proper salaat.


I really hope you take my suggestion, and inshaAllah I hope Allah will make it easy for you.


Here is a good site that has nice transliteration of the entire salat with sound clips so you can hear the pronunciation, as well as detailed instructions to make it easy:


http://www.islamway.com/english/images/prayer/pray1.htm


I encourage you, Shaunee, and any other new muslim, to try this and Shaunee I would really love to hear back from you after a week to see how your prayer is going!!


May Allah make things easy for you Shaunee as you begin your new life, inshaAllah ameen