How one who does not know Arabic should pray
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The second question of fatwa number ( 20740 )
Q 2: Is it permissible for a person who does not speak Arabic and is proficient only in French or English to pray in one of these two languages, or is he required to pray only in Arabic?
A 2: If a Muslim is able to learn Arabic, it is obligatory for him to do so in order to perform the dhikr of his prayer in it, including recitation, takbir, and supplications. If he is unable to learn Arabic, he prays according to his condition and performs the dhikr in his own language, and the recitation of the Qur'an is excused from him in this case because of his inability to do so, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] . The Qur'an cannot be recited in any language other than Arabic. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 2: Is it permissible for a person who does not speak Arabic and is proficient only in French or English to pray in one of these two languages, or is he required to pray only in Arabic?
A 2: If a Muslim is able to learn Arabic, it is obligatory for him to do so in order to perform the dhikr of his prayer in it, including recitation, takbir, and supplications. If he is unable to learn Arabic, he prays according to his condition and performs the dhikr in his own language, and the recitation of the Qur'an is excused from him in this case because of his inability to do so, as Allah the Exalted said:
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلا وُسْعَهَا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.