Question:

I have the Quran in Arabic and in opposite on the same sheet in German. Is it permissible to read it in Arabic and if I don't understand words to read the German text? Please give me one answer and one result only.

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  is His slave and Messenger.

Quran is the miraculous composition in words and letters. So, it is not permitted to read its translation in prayer or outside it with the intention of Tilaawah (recitation) since such translation is not a Quran nor similar to it, whether one can learn Arabic or cannot. This is the opinion of the majority of the Muslim scholars.

On the other hand, if one intends to understand the meanings of the Quran through reading the translation, then there is no objection in Shari'ah if the verses are written in the transliteration of non-Arabic language, i.e. to write the pronunciation of Arabic letter in similar non-Arabic letters so that there will be no change in pronunciation or intonation as stated in the Quran.

Thus, so many languages do not have letters that are available in Arabic. We think achieving such a state is difficult, and one will not be able to read the Quran correctly if the pronunciation and intonation of the Quranic words written in non-Arabic letters (i.e. Transliteration).

Anyway, we have supposed that may be there are some languages with identical letters and forms of pronunciation as in Arabic, although we believe it is rare. So, if the inquirer can read letters as they are pronounced in Arabic, then there is no blame on him, otherwise, he is not permitted to read as mentioned in his question.

Allah knows best. 

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb