Is it Necessary to Read the Quran in Arabic,
and to Recite Prayers and Supplications in Arabic as well?
When we examine the Quran, we find no direct or indirect command that makes it mandatory to recite prayers in Arabic. However, many preachers impose this restriction, citing numerous Quranic verses that state Allah revealed the Quran in Arabic.
God states in the following verses that He revealed the Quran in Arabic, and He informs us of the reason for this as follows:
We verily, have made it a Quran in Arabic, that you may be able to understand
Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran in order that you may understand.
And thus We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an and have diversified therein the warnings that perhaps they will avoid [sin] or it would cause them remembrance
[It is] an Arabic Qur'an, without any deviance that they might become righteous.
Thus have We revealed to you an Arabic Quran that you may warn [the people of] the Mother of the Towns (Makkah) and those around it, and warn [them] of the Day of Gathering, in which there is no doubt, [whereupon] a part [of mankind] will be in paradise and a part will be in the Blaze.
193. The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down
194. Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners
195. In a clear Arabic language.
3. A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur'an for a people who know,
4. As a giver of good tidings and a warner; but most of them turn away, so they do not hear.
Al-Ahqaf, verse 12.
And before this was the Scripture of Musa (Moses) as a guide and a mercy. And this is a confirming Book (the Quran) in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings to the Muhsinun (good-doers).
The reasons given in the verses above for the Quran being in Arabic—such as "reasoning, being warned, being pious, and serving as a reminder"—are actions dependent on the comprehensibility(ease of understanding) of the language.
Allah revealed the Quran in Arabic so that it could be read in a way that the people around the Prophet could understand. No other reason is mentioned in the Quran. Furthermore, in the following verses, it is stated, "We have made it easy for you in your tongue," emphasizing that the revelation was specifically provided in their own language so that the Prophet's warnings would be remembered by his audience.
So We have made this (the Quran) easy in your own tongue, only that you may give glad tidings to the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons), and warn with it the Ludda (most quarrelsome, hostile) people.
Certainly, We have made this (Quran) easy in your tongue, in order that they may remember.
And We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?
* The above verse is repeated exactly the same way 4 times (verses 17, 22, 32, 40) in the same surah.
Unfortunately, some people come up with completely fabricated claims. One of these fabrications is the claim that a person can only connect with the Creator and that Allah will accept and answer their prayers when they recite in Arabic during prayer! To evaluate this claim, we must begin with these Quranic verses, which state that prayer is as old as Abraham:
72. And We bestowed upon him Ishaque (Isaac), and (a grandson) Ya'qub (Jacob). Each one We made righteous.
73. And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds, performing Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and the giving of Zakat and of Us (Alone) they were worshippers.
Prayer was performed by Prophet Abraham and all believers who came after him. They never recited their prayers in Arabic. In this case, would it be correct to conclude that none of them were able to connect with Allah through their prayers, or that their supplications were not accepted or answered?
Ordering non-Arabic speakers to recite their prayers in Arabic, otherwise declaring it unacceptable, results in many believers reciting their prayers using words they don't fully understand. Many people complain of being unable to concentrate during prayer. This happens because the brain, constantly repeating things it doesn't know, becomes accustomed to it and drifts off into background thoughts .
Therefore, in the Quran, Allah emphasizes the importance of knowing what we say in prayer:
O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter(complete), nor when you are in a state of Janaba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body. And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature(has relieved himself), or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.
Although the above statements refer to drunkenness and prohibit drunk people from praying, the reason given applies to anyone who prays without understanding the meaning.
The only reason drunkenness prevents a believer from praying is that the drunk person cannot know what they are saying during prayer. Therefore, prayer is not possible. For this reason, Allah added the phrase "until they know what they are saying" after the word "drunk" to emphasize the importance of knowing what we are saying during prayer.
The words in the verse above undoubtedly confirm that knowing what we say during prayer is a necessity, and therefore the words of prayer must be spoken in a language that the worshipper can fully understand.
Believers who do not speak Arabic are somehow led astray by false teachings into believing that they gain extra prestige by reciting their prayers in Arabic! The ultimate purpose of prayer is to fulfill one's servitude and to connect with Allah through supplication, glorifying, praising, and remembering Him in order to gain His pleasure. The sincerity of this connection comes not from the words or the effectiveness of language, but solely from your submission to Allah. Indeed, the word Islam, in a religious context, means submission to Allah.