I Am a Convert. Is It Okay for Me to Read the Qur’an in English?
Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil
Question: Assalam Alaykum,
I have come across many recommendations to read Quran often. I don’t know how to read Qur’an in Arabic. If I read the Qur’an in English, or listen to it either in English or Arabic, would it be okay?
Also, how do I pray and make dua, as a convert?
Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray this finds you well. May Allah reward you for reaching out to us.
Qur’an
Even if you are unable to read Qur’an in Arabic right now, I encourage you to listen to Qur’anic recitation in Arabic. There is tremendous blessing in listening, even if you do not understand what you hear. Let it sink into your heart. Allah can place understanding and healing within you. That is not difficult for Him.
It is praiseworthy for you to read and reflect on Qur’anic translations.
Education
Please take small steps in your journey towards reciting and understanding Qur’an in Arabic. If you do not have a Qur’an teacher in your vicinity, then consider online options such as SeekersGuidance. You can find their resources on Qur’anic study here.
If understanding Qur’anic Arabic feels daunting for you at first, then you can consider learning conversational Arabic first, through websites such as Natakallam.
Convert prayer and dua
When you are outside of prayer, then it is praiseworthy for you to make dua in any language.
When it comes to prayer, then you must recite it in Arabic.
I encourage you to pick a madhab and strive to study and implement its rulings on prayer. For example, if you live near a place like Malaysia, which is a predominantly Shafi’i community then it would be easier for you to adopt that madhab. This gives you access to scholars who can help you along your journey.
A useful course for you would be: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Basic Shafi’i Jurisprudence (STEP)
May Allah facilitate your journey towards him. Please keep in touch.
Please see:
The Angels Who Come To Listen To You Recite The Qur’an, by Imam Khalid Latif
How the Qur’an Shapes the Sunni Community – Dr. Ingrid Mattson
New Converts, Making Up Missed Prayers, and Praying Confirmed Sunnas
OvercomeTV
[Ustadha] Raidah Shah Idil
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil has spent almost two years in Amman, Jordan, where she learned Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajweed. She continues to study with her Teachers in Malaysia and online through SeekersGuidance Global. She graduated with a Psychology and English degree from University of New South Wales, was a volunteer hospital chaplain for 5 years and has completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law.
