I am currently a christian, but my intention is to convert to Islam
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum
wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon
all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
assalamoalikum
i am currently a christian, but my intention is to convert to Islam, but i dont
know any Arabic, is it possible to convrert to Islam without knowing Arabic, as
i know that you have to pray in Arabic and read the Qu`ran in Arabic, do i need
to learn it before i can convert? i have heard that i can pray in English and
learn Arabic as i go, but i know that it will take me quite a while to learn
it, so could you please help me, and is there any websites where i can go on,
to learn Arabic?
thank
you
Allah
hafiz
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errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
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Answer:
Christian revert
Arabic
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Your
Question: is it possible to convrert to Islam without knowing Arabic,
Beloved Sister, knowing the Arabic language is definitely
not a condition to become a muslim. The
conditions of becoming a muslim are:
It is absolutely possible for one who believes in all the
above six conditions to revert to Islam without knowing even a single word of
the Arabic language. The truth sister is
that the absolute majority of the muslims (almost 85%) today do not speak or understand
the Arabic language; for the approved way of life ‘Al-Islam’ was never meant to
be for a particular tribe or community, but it was for all of mankind.
Your
Question: as i know that you have to pray in Arabic and read the Qu`ran in
Arabic, do i need to learn it before i can convert?
One need not learn to pray in Arabic or learn to recite
the Glorious Quran in Arabic before one reverts to Al-Islam; one should always
first and foremost believe in the above listed six conditions of belief and
accept Islam…..and then learn and memorize the few simple oft-repeated phrases
which constitute the prayer.
Although the real beauty and the full meaning of every
verse of the Glorious Quran can only be appreciated in the language it was
revealed, one can easily comprehend the dictates of the deen by reading the
translation of the Glorious Quran in a language they understand best.
Your
Question: i have heard that i can pray in English and learn Arabic as i go, but
i know that it will take me quite a while to learn it, so could you please help
me, and is there any websites where i can go on, to learn Arabic?
Dear and Beloved Sister, the prayer in Islam is something
that unites the believers, regardless of what nationality, color, creed or
language they may belong to; thus it is always best to offer the prayers in the
Arabic language.
One needs to memorize only a handful of verses in Arabic
which constitute the prayer, and listed below is the transliteration of a few
short Surahs, the supplications, and the phrases of praise and glorification of
the Lord which form the Islamic rite of prayer.
Surah 1 Al-Fatihah (obligatory recitation in
every rakah of prayer)
1 Bismilla_hir rahma_nir rahim.
2 Alhamdu lilla_hi rabbil 'a_lamin.
3 Ar rahma_nir rahim.
4 Ma_liki yaumid din.
5 Iyya_ka na'budu wa iyya_ka nasta'in.
6 Ihdinas siratal mustaqim.
7 Sira_tal lazina an'amta 'alaihim gairil
magdu_bi 'alaihim walad da_llin.
Surah 103 Al-Asr (one of the shortest Surahs of
the Quran for voluntary recitation)
1 Wal
asr
2 In nal insa_na lafi khusr
3 Il lal ladzina a_ma_nu_ wa amilus
sa_liha_ti wa tawasau bil haq qi wa tawa_sau bis sabr
Surah 108 Al-Kauthar (one of the shortest Surahs
for voluntary recitation)
1 In
na_ ataina_kal kautsar
2 Fasal
li lirab bika wanhar
3 In
na sha_ni aka huwal abtar
If you could try to secure to memory the above few short
Surahs of the Quran and learn the few phrases of praise and glorification of
the Lord and the few supplications which are listed below which should not take
you more than a day or two, you would be well on your way to establish prayer,
Insha Allah.
1. INTENTION AND TAKBIR
To make intention in your heart regarding the prayer you
are about to make. Then raise your
hands to your ears and say “Allah o Akbar”
meaning Allah is the Greatest,
signaling the start of Prayer.
2. QIYAM or Standing
Pray the Surah Al Fateha and any other aayahs from the
Quran.
3.
RUKU or bowing
The Prophet (saws) used to say: “Subhan Allah
il Adheem” meaning Glory
be to Allah, the Most Great 3 times or more (but preferably in odd number
formations, 3,5,7,9….)
4. STANDING UP FROM RUKU
The Prophet (saws) used to say: “Sameh Allah ho
Leman Hameda” meaning Allah listen to the one who is grateful
(for the bounties received by Allah).
In reply the noble companions in the congregation used to
say: “Rabbana lakal hamd” meaning O
our Lord, we are grateful to you.
5. SAJDAH (Prostration)
The Prophet (saws) used to pray: “Subhana Rabb eil A’ala” meaning Glory be to Allah, the Most High. (3 times or more in odd
number formation 3,5,7,9…)
6. SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAHS
(This can be used to invoke any prayer to Allah.)
At times the Prophet (saws) used to make this
supplication: ‘Allah hum mag firli wale waale
dayya, wal lil mu’minina, wal
mu’minate, wal muslemeena, wal muslemaate, hayy
min hum wala hum amwaat.’
O Allah, forgive
me, my parents, the true believing men, the true believing women, the believing men, the believing women, whether alive from amongst them, or those that have died. (We beg You to
forgive them all)
7. TASHAHUD
At tahiya
tu lillahe was salawaato, wat tayyebato
lillahe.
Every kind of salutes,
all kinds of prayers, and all
kinds of good and pure words and things, are for Allah Alone.
As Salaam alieka ya ayyo han nabi o, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
(Allah told the Prophet(saws) these words on the Night of
Mairaaj in His audience): May Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you, O Prophet (saws)
As Salaam o alayna wa a’la ibaa dallah hiss
saleheen.
(The Prophet(saws) replied, as Allah Himself is the source of All
Peace, and the Prophet (saws) could not
possibly send Peace upon Allah): May
Peace be upon me (saws), and the good,
obedient or pious slaves of Allah.
Ash hado ann laa ilaha illahlah, wahdahu,
laa sharika lahuu,
(The Prophet(saws) said to Allah in audience): I bear
witness that there is no god, except Allah,
Alone, He has no partners.
Wa ash hado anna Mohamed dan abdullahi wa
Rasul Allah.
(And Allah replied): And I bear witness that (you, O)
Mohamed, are the slave and Messenger of
Allah
Allah humma salle a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le
Mohamed,
May Allah’s blessings be upon Mohamed (saws), and his ummah (or family or both), just like the blessing of Allah on Ibrahim
and his ummah (or family or both)
Innaka
Hameed un Majeed
For You are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.
Allah humma barik a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le
Mohamed,
May Allah’s baraka be upon Mohamed (saws) and his ummah
(or family or both) just like the baraka of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or
family or both)
Innaka Hameed un Majeed.
For You are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.
(Any Invocation to Allah)
Allah hum mag firli wale waaledayya war hum
homa
O Allah, forgive
me, and my parents, and have mercy upon them both, just as they had mercy on me when I was an
infant.
8. TASLEEM to signal the end of
prayer.
After completion of the ‘tashahud’, the Prophet (saws)
would end his prayer by first turning his face towards his right and then left
by saying: ‘As Salaam-o-alaykum wa Rahmatullah’
meaning ‘May Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah’.
The above is a short and concise description of the
prayers as prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws). Any believer whom you know could easily teach
you the exact rites of prayer and its obligations, Insha Allah.
Beloved Sister, if we could be of any further help in your
this noble intention of reverting to Islam, we would consider it an honor and
deem ourselves fortunate to be given an opportunity to serve in the Cause of
the Lord Most High.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
