Can We Transliterate Duas in English despite Knowing How to Write in Arabic?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I occasionally translate Hadith duas into English. In order to serve as reminders and aid in memorization, these written documents are posted on the walls or in some other location in the room. My family can read Arabic, but it seems simpler to write and read them in English.
I just learned that transliterating the Quran into English is forbidden. Does the same hold true for duas based on hadith? Is it permissible to transliterate them into English? Please let me know.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are well.
It would be permissible to transliterate some verses but not entire suras or pages of the Quran for educational purposes, although it is not the proper way, as one can make mistakes in pronouncing the words properly when reading unless one clarifies and learns how to read the writing with proper pronunciation. However, like you mentioned, it is beneficial for you and others, so it is fine.
As for transliteration of duas in hadith, it would be absolutely fine to do so.
Also, as a note, wudu will not be needed to touch the Quran and hadith transliteration, as it is not Quran in terms of word or meaning. Although, out of caution and respect, one may do so. [Ibn ’Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
I pray this helps in your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
Arabic References
إنْ اعْتَادَ الْقِرَاءَةَ بِالْفَارِسِيَّةِ أَوْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ مُصْحَفًا بِهَا يُمْنَعُ، وَإِنْ فَعَلَ فِي آيَةٍ أَوْ آيَتَيْنِ لَا، فَإِنْ كَتَبَ الْقُرْآنَ وَتَفْسِيرَ كُلِّ حَرْفٍ وَتَرْجَمَتَهُ جَازَ.
ص486 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – فروع قرأ بالفارسية أو التوراة أو الإنجيل – المكتبة الشاملة
