Converts and Salaah language

[loveProphet]

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

I got a question:

1)A convert, he's new to Islam, is he allowed to read the Fatiha etc in English before he knows Arabic??
2) If a convert knows the Arabic Surahs etc and reads the Arabic AND THEN reads the English translation to help him understand what he's saying in the Salaah, is that allowed?? If not, does he have to read all those Salaahs again??

JazakAllah Khair

Wa Salaam

[MRahman]

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

I got a question:

1)A convert, he's new to Islam, is he allowed to read the Fatiha etc in English before he knows Arabic??
2) If a convert knows the Arabic Surahs etc and reads the Arabic AND THEN reads the English translation to help him understand what he's saying in the Salaah, is that allowed?? If not, does he have to read all those Salaahs again??

JazakAllah Khair

Wa Salaam

Asalamualaikum, according to the hanafi position, one may not translate surah fatiha nor any other surah. Any utterance that is not from the quran will nullify the salah generally.

One who does not know surah fatiha, he will pray without recitation of the surah (it is waajib to recite it) and do sajdah sahw (prostration of inattentiveness) at the end, until he learns, and it will be compulsory upon him/her to learn the surah.

Allah knows best!!!

[ridhwan]

:salam:


1)A convert, he's new to Islam, is he allowed to read the Fatiha etc in English before he knows Arabic??

Until a convert learns the complete Salaat, they may say "Allaahu Akbar" when starting the Salaat and say "SubhaanAllah" thrice in every posture. They should also make an effort to learn the complete Salaat with Qiraat, etc. as quickly as possible ( Mufti Ebrahim Desai (http://askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.php?askid=f9d3ee8309d8f5cf0f5d9c30e0ac65f7) )



2) If a convert knows the Arabic Surahs etc and reads the Arabic AND THEN reads the English translation to help him understand what he's saying in the Salaah, is that allowed?? If not, does he have to read all those Salaahs again??

It is Mukruh Tahrimi to make dua in any other language in Salah. If it is done, the salah will have to be repeated. (Shaami, Ahsanul Fataawa 3/432)



One who does not know surah fatiha, he will pray without recitation of the surah (it is waajib to recite it) and do sajdah sahw (prostration of inattentiveness) at the end, until he learns, and it will be compulsory upon him/her to learn the surah.

Sajdah Sahw is performed only when a Wajib act is obmitted forgetfully/unknowingly. If one deliberately obmits a Wajib then Salah becomes invalid and must be repeated. ( See: Taleemul Haqq (http://www.inter-islam.org/Actions/Part8.html) )

In the case of the convert etc they should recite "SubhaanAllah" thrice in each part they have not learnt ( as already mentioned above ). Mufti Sahib (damatbarakatuhum) did not mention that Sajdah Sahw should be performed when mentioning the ruling, alluding to the fact that the Salah of such person is valid and there is no need to repeat or perform Sajdah Sahw.

wAllahu Aalam