English Prayer
The Quran does not restrict Salāt (ritual prayer) or Quranic recitation to the Arabic language. Worship in Islam is fundamentally about connecting with God with sincerity and understanding.
The Quran Was Revealed in Arabic for Its First Recipients
The Quran was revealed in Arabic because the initial recipients were Arabic-speaking people.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ
Innā anzalnāhu qurʾānan ʿarabiyyan laʿallakum taʿqilūn.
We have brought it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may reason.
(12:2)
This does not imply that Arabic is the only acceptable language for worship. It was revealed in Arabic because that was the language of the initial audience. If Arabic were the only "holy" language, why were earlier scriptures, such as the Torah and Injīl, revealed in other languages, such as Hebrew and Aramaic?
God Accepts All Languages
God created all languages, and their diversity is a sign of His creation:
وَمِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ خَلۡقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفُ أَلۡسِنَتِكُمۡ وَأَلۡوَٰنِكُمۡۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَـٰتٍۢ لِّلۡعَـٰلِمِينَ
Wa-min āyātihi khalqu al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍi wa-ikhtilāfu alsinatikum wa-alwānikum.
And from among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and your colours. Indeed, in that are signs for the knowledgeable.
(30:22)
This verse confirms that all languages are equal in God’s eyes. Worshipping in one’s native language is valid and ensures sincerity and understanding.
The Importance of Understanding What You Say
The Quran emphasizes the importance of understanding during Salāt. God commands believers not to approach prayer if they do not comprehend their words:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقۡرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمۡ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعۡلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ
Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū lā taqrabū al-Salāt wa-antum sukarā ḥattā taʿlamū mā taqūlūn.
O you who believe, do not approach the Salat while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying…
(4:43)
This verse underscores the necessity of understanding what one recites in prayer. Reciting in a language one does not understand undermines the spiritual connection and sincerity of the act.
The Ultimate Purpose of Salāt
The purpose of Salāt is to glorify God and commemorate Him sincerely:
إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِى
Innanī ana Allāhu lā ilāha illā ana faʿbudnī wa-aqim al-Salāt li-dhikrī.
I am God. There is no god except Me. So worship Me, and observe the Salat to commemorate Me.
(20:14)
Reciting in a language one does not understand reduces the sincerity and turns the act into a mere ritual. Worship should emanate from the heart, not just the tongue.
What About Reciting Al-Fātihah in Arabic?
The Quran does not specifically state that Al-Fātihah, or any part of the Salāt, must be recited in Arabic. Claims that Al-Fātihah must be recited in Arabic stem from secondary sources, not the Quran. The Quran emphasizes intention and sincerity over linguistic specifics.
Conclusion
- No Quranic Basis for Restricting Salāt to Arabic: The Quran does not mandate that Salāt or Quranic recitation must be in Arabic.
- Understanding and Sincerity Are Key: Worship must be meaningful, which is best achieved by using a language the worshiper understands.
- God Accepts All Languages: All languages are part of God’s creation, and every language is suitable for connecting with Him. 4.The Quran Focuses on the Heart, Not the Tongue: Insisting on Arabic-only worship is a human imposition with no foundation in the Quran.
Worship God sincerely in the language that allows you to connect deeply with Him. True devotion is not confined to any particular language but resides in the heart and understanding of the worshiper.