Q&A: Reading the Transliteration Version of the Qur’an

Question

I cannot read the Quran in its Arabic text, so I always read it in the English version (transliteration). Is it right for me to do so?

Answer

None of the recognized Islamic scholars, based on my humble readings, so far, has allowed for the words of the Qur’an, to be written in a language other than Arabic. They have even gone to the extent, that it’s prohibited (Haram) to do so. On that basis, if any of us is to read the Qur'an, he must read it from Arabic text Qur’an, and not from transliteration.

If one decides to start to learn read the transliteration (because they are available today), he has to work towards learning Arabic letters and words, in a way that will enable him to read the Qur’an in Arabic. This is important, because, the Qur’an can only better be read, in Arabic. And that’s how it was written, and should be written.

On the other hand, reading the meaning (translation) of the Qur’an is a different thing, which does not substitute reading the Holy Qur’an. With it, we understand the meaning of the Qur’an, and possibly act upon the teachings of the Book.

Allah knows best.

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