A Muslim is required to read the Holy Quran to discover the words and commandments of Allah. The Quran is a book of Arabic origin. Thus, it is written in Arabic. However, for those who are not able to read the Quran in Arabic, they opt for the phonetic version. But does reading the Quran phonetically fall under what is Haram? Browse our guide to discover the answers.
The translation of verses from the Quran: is it Haram?
For a Muslim, knowing how to read Arabic is an honor, especially for those who wish to read the Quran. Indeed, reading the Quran is very important for a Muslim. Muslims pronounce the revealed words to the Prophet over 1400 years ago, meaning the same words, the same phrases, the same verses. However, it should be noted that initially, the transcription of the Quran phonetically was intended to make it accessible to those who do not master Arabic. Many Muslims who are not able to read the Quran in Arabic opt for phonetic reading. And also, for ease of use, some people continue to read the Quran phonetically.
On the other hand, according to the consensus of Islamic scholars, the translations of the meanings of the verses of the Quran into other languages are only interpretations. They only allow us to have a general idea of what the Quran says. However, we will not have access to a detailed and precise understanding of the Book of Allah through these versions. Thus, to answer the question at the very beginning of the article, this practice is not Haram in Islam. However, it should be noted that this approach may have some downsides.
Why is it discouraged to read the Quran phonetically?
Reading the Quran phonetically has always raised questions among Muslims. Although this approach may prove to be wise for those who cannot read the Quran in Arabic, it has drawbacks:
Delay in learning Arabic
Phonetics will delay the learning of the Arabic language. Yet, Arabic is the language of revelation of the Book of Allah. The first step to learning a language is first to learn its alphabet.
Letters have no French equivalent
The major problem in reading the Quran phonetically is that some letters have no equivalent in French. Thus, we will invent a phonetic transcription for these letters, making it difficult to pronounce these letters. Instead of learning the letters that do not correctly pronounce the initial letters, it is preferable to learn the Arabic alphabet directly. Moreover, even if there are common letters between these two alphabets, it does not mean that they are pronounced the same way.
By understanding well what Haram means along with the answers provided in this guide, we conclude that reading the Quran phonetically is not illicit. Phonetics has always been a means of facilitating the reading of the Holy Quran. However, not all letters are translated, so it is preferable to learn the Arabic alphabet directly.
