Relying On Qur'an Transliteration

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace said:

The likeness of a believer who recites the Qur'an is like that of a citron: its scent is fragrant and its taste delicious. The likeness of a believer who does not recite the Qur'an is like that of a date: it has no fragrance and its taste is delicious. The likeness of a hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is a like a water lily: its scent is fragrant and its taste is bitter. And a likeness of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like a bitter colocynth: it is scentless and its taste is bitter.

(Bukhari)

If you want to recite the Qur'an, do it properly by reciting the Arabic Qur'an, not the transliteration book.

Qur'an was sent in Arabic, and as Muslims, we should know how to read the Qur'an in Arabic from the mushaf. Transliteration is not a substitute to Arabic Qur'an.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٣

Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. (3)

[Qur'an Az-Zukhruf 43:3]

No one expect you to be perfect, but you have to give it a try. Over time you will be good at it inshaAllah. Even if you have to struggle your whole life learning how to read the Qur'an properly, Allah sees that you are trying, and this is what counts. We are seeking nearness to Allah in reciting His Speech more than getting everything correct. So, don't spend 10, 20 or 40 years depending on transliteration and saying the Speech of Allah all wrong.

So, learn how to read the Arabic Qur'an. If you have passed primary or grade school, you should have enough IQ to learn the Arabic letters and how letters are joined to make Arabic words. It is not difficult at all, if you have the will and if you have the right priority. You are learning and reciting to seek Allah's pleasure and nearness to Him, and He will hold your hand to take you there. Nothing is difficult with Allah and nothing is easy without Allah. If you go to Allah walking, Allah will come to you running (with speed).

Hadith Qudsi:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: Allah the Almighty said:

I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.

It doesn't take long to recognize the Arabic alphabets and learning the rules of joining letters to form words (definitely not 10, 20 or 40 years), and before long you can read the mushaf.

Remember, each step of your learning is worship and each time you make a mistake in reciting the Qur'an, you have two rewards. This is by the mercy of Allah.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

The one who recites the Qur'an and is skillful therein will be with the obedient, noble, recording angels; and the one who reads the Qur'an stammering, it being difficult for him, has two rewards.

(Bukhari)

If you don't learn Arabic and recite the Qur'an in Arabic, you will forever rely on transliteration, which is not right necessarily.

Make the intention now to learn how to read the Qur'an in Arabic. InshaAllah, Allah will make it easy for you.

وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ ۖ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ ﴿٤٤

And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur'an, they would have said, "Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?" Say, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure." And those who do not believe - in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place. (44)

[Qur'an Fussilat 41:44]

May Allah give you success. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

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