In the name of Allah,

The Entirely Merciful, The Especially Merciful

Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the seal of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.

Resolution No. 242 (4/25)

Phenomenon of Non-Arabic Recitation in Salat

The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, holding its 25th session in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 29 Rajab – 3 Shaaban 1444H (20-23 February 2023),

Having examined the research papers submitted to the Academy concerning the Phenomenon of Non-Arabic Recitation in Salat,

In light of the presentations of the Academy’s members on this new phenomenon calling for salat in non-Arabic by reciting the translations of the meanings of the Noble Quran and adhkaar (prescribed invocations) as an alternative to the Arabic language, in which the Noble Quran was revealed,

Having realized that this phenomenon is unrelated to the well-known juristic debate on the recitation of salat in languages other than Arabic,

Having listened to the discussions and deliberations of the Academy’s members and experts, and in order to curb the evils of this dangerous phenomenon,

Resolves

First: Salat or the regular compulsory prayer in Arabic is one of unanimously agreed-upon matters in both words and meaning (i.e., explicitly and implicitly); and one of the rites of Islam that the Ummah has practiced unanimously since the time of the Prophet’s Companions (RA) to this day. Therefore, it is not permissible to disagree with this well-established doctrine.

Second: Salat in a language other than Arabic is null and void. There is no excuse for a person not to learn in Arabic whatever is necessary from the Noble Quran and the prescribed invocations such as takbeer, tasbeeh, tasmee’, tahmeed, tashahud, and so on. The only exceptions are a very new revert to Islam or someone completely incapable of learning the Arabic language.

Third: The translation of the meanings of the Noble Quran is not considered Quran in itself by the consensus of all Muslims because the word Quran is a name that describes both the meanings and the structure as a whole. It is the inimitable and sequential word of Allah, which has a miraculous nature, that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in a clear Arabic tongue. It is well-structured and fully contained between the two covers of the Muṣḥaf, and its recitation has been legislated by Allah as an act of worship.

However, translations of the meanings of the Quran are not Allah’s words. Rather, they are the words of humans, devoid of miraculous characteristics and not free from error and misguidance, and hence their recitation cannot be regarded as an act of worship.

Fourth: The performance of Salat with the translations of the meanings of the Noble Quran and adhkaar is null and void. It must be repeated appropriately because of dismissing one of the fundamental pillars of salat, thus the abandonment of the Arabic recitation of the Noble Quran as revealed to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).

Fifth: The official authorities are entitled to enact taazir (discretionary penalization) on anyone who performs or advocates salat in a language other than Arabic due to the vices associated with such actions. These vices are used as pretexts to divert people from the Noble Quran, replacing it with translations of its meanings, and promoting division within the Ummah by propagating linguistic and ethnic prejudices.

Recommendations

• Urging governments of OIC Member States and institutions concerned with Muslim communities to take measures against those who advocate salat with the translations of the Noble Quran and adhkaar, which have begun to spread in some OIC Member States and among Muslim communities abroad, instigated by suspicious and anti-Islamic entities aiming to sow discord among Muslims.
• Calling on Ifta authorities, Sharia boards, Fiqh councils, and academies, as well as imams and preachers, to emphasize the dangers of this phenomenon and its harmful effects on the Ummah’s unity.
• Calling on various institutions, including universities, schools, and scientific centers to facilitate the learning of Arabic so that every Muslim will be able to read the Noble Quran in Arabic, the language chosen by Allah the Almighty for His Glorious Word which is miraculous and magnificent in both its meanings and structure.

Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing.