Can his Arabic fluent wife lead him in prayer?

13-4-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

I turned myself to Islam last year and I just get married, thanks to Allaah. I am very young in religious purpose, I don't speak Arabic, I know a very few of Qur'an. My wife is Muslim and gets knowledge of religion and prayer. She is from Morocco and speaks fluently Arabic. Is it possible for us to pray together and when, for her to lead prayer for us too? And for me to learn from her.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First of all, all perfect praise be to Allaah Who guided you to Islam, and we ask Him to bless you with religious knowledge and make you firm on this religion until you die.

It is permissible for you to pray with your wife but it is not permissible for her to lead the prayer, please refer to Fatwa: 82591 about the ruling of a woman leading men in prayer, and refer to Fatwa: 82538 about the ruling on congregational prayer in the mosque.

We advise you to endeavour to learn how to recite the Qur'an and learn Arabic and the rulings of the prayer and all other matters related to your religion. You should continuously supplicate Allaah to make this easy for you. Allaah says (which means): {And those who strive for Us-We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allaah is with the doers of good.}[Qur'an 29:69]. Allaah further says (which means): {And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you.}[Qur'an 40:60].

Allaah knows best.