Are Muslims required to pray in Arabic?

Question

or can they pray in any language they understand?

Answer 1

The 5 daily prayers are required in Arabic but if the person has any PERSONAL prayers he/she can ask in any language or just through their mind and thoughts if they want

Muslims pray in arabic because it brings ithayhaad (unity). Not the Arabic language itself but the fact that the entire muslim world prays in Arabic.

Imagine an Arab, a Pakistani, an Indian, a persian, a russian, an american and an englishman, praying side by side in thier language. If they don't learn to pray the daily prayers in arabic, the Imam will have to keep translating the prayer into several languages verse by verse.

P.S. it makes more sense to say in arabic e.g. would you rather say Allahu Akbar or God is the Greatest

Answer 2

Let me give you a simple example,
I am in China and the Masjid(Mosques) there do not have the shape or appearance of Masjids in the middle east, and they need not be...

But if they call the prayer in Arabic, which they do, even a poor Indian like me can understand that there is a Masjid nearby and the prayer is about to commence... So I quickly join in...

Again, the problem with translation is, you never get the same words as the original, doing 100% justice to the meaning... So if we only depend on translations neglecting the original, some may translate in one way and some others in some other way and finally the whole meaning is lost....

So a good Imam ( leader of prayers) will learn Arabic properly....

But the religious speeches (Kutbah) before friday prayers are done in local language in the Masjid, so that people can understand...

Answer 3

The most important thing about praying as a muslim is that you do it 5 times per day everyday. Allah swt knows all languages . Islam is based on intention , so if one prays with the right intentions it , god willing , will be accepted in any language.
Arabic is the language of the qur'an and it is preferred to pray in arabic but allah swt is patient , understanding and knows our intention and abilities

Answer 4

Depends what you mean by pray.

If it's salaat (the 5-times-a-day obligatory prayers where you are supposed to stand, bow, and prostrate and repeat) yes; you have to recite the quranic verses and invocations in Arabic, in the original form of the salaat as taught by the Prophet Muhamad. It is a matter of discipline where language is used to unite the liturgical aspect of the religion so that wherever you go on this earth, salaat can be performed in a similar way with other people regardless of colour, language or nation.

If it's doa (prayers of supplication, where you ask for God's assistance) I suppose you could say it in Martian or Venutian or just by thinking about it and not really saying it aloud.

For newbies however, you can salaat and pray as you like in your language until you learn to say it in Arabic. and it is really not that difficult.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Some say Muslim must pray in Arabic.
But I prefer to understand what I say to God. So I learn the prayer, find the meaning. If it isn't enough, I use my own.

God speaks all languages.
The best language for a prayer is the language of the heart.

Answer 6

Muslim have certain prayers that we must perform in the Arabic language, particularly those we read during our 5 times prayers (shalah), at Hajj, during Ramadhan etc. But apart from those certain prayers, we Muslims can pray with our own native languages. Hope that answers your question :)

Answer 7

Yes the OFFICIAL language of the Salah (Prayer) is Arabic.
BUT, those whose language is not Arabic MUST understand the meaning of the part of Quran that they recite daily and ponder over it in the prayer.

Why should this be done?

The OFFICIAL language is Arabic for UNITY.
And we must understand its meanings in our mother tongue to gain from what GOD commands us. Prayer is not just ritual. Its a 'PROGRAMMING TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS'

When one tries to uderstand the commands of GOD then he/she is getting programmed towards righteousness.

Answer 8

Yes if they know how to. However for example if they just became Muslim, it is permissable for them to say them in the language they know until they learn it. it is better because arabic is the language of Jannah (Paradise).

Answer 9

in terms of salah, yes, because that is the language of the Holy Quran and thats why Muslims are encouraged to learn arabic so they know what they are asking in prayer.
but when prayer is over and u are there on the prayer matt, just you and God, prayers can be offered in any language for ALLAH is most knowing.........
i.e. outside of salah, prayers can be in any language as for me i do it in english or malay (my mother tounge) and it came through everytime..

Answer 10

I guess you're speaking about the sala'at, which they do 5 times a day. That's compulsorily in Arabic.

You need to understand that the regimentation of this "Religion" is very important to their Agenda for World Domination, which Islam is all about, with the Arabs being at the helm of Affairs. If they permitted any other language to replace it, that part of the Agenda would be lost, and the don't want that to happen.

You need to be in complete understanding of their Agenda to understand the danger it poses to the rest of the World and, also, to be able to know why they do a lot of things the way they do.

Merry Christmas!!!!