Are My Prayers Invalid If I Don’t Understand Arabic?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam ‘aleykum

If someone is taught how to pray in Arabic but does not understand Arabic would his prayers be invalid?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

No, your prayers are valid even if you do not understand Arabic because understanding what you are saying is not a condition of validity.

But once you have learnt how to pray soundly, you can look into learning the meanings of the prayer– both literally and spiritually.

Please consider taking the following free class at SeekersGuidance: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Basic Hanafi Jurisprudence (STEP)

And Allah alone gives success.

wassalam,
Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani