Can we do Salat in a language other than Arabic?
It Is Inadmissible to do the ritual Prayer in any language other than Arabic
Question: ‘Someone wrote a tract that all ritual prayer should be done in one’s own language.’
Answer by the Promised Messiah (as):
‘That may be some practice, we do not agree with it. The Noble Quran is a blessed book and the speech of the Glorious Lord. It should not be abandoned. We have only told those who are illiterate and cannot express themselves properly to say their supplications in their own language.’
[Al-Hakam, October 24, 1902, p. 12]
What is wrong with doing the entire ritual prayer in one’s own language?
The Promised Messiah (as) answered:
[Al-Badr, Jan. 23; 30, 1903, p. 4]
The speech of God Almighty ought to be recited in its language. There is a blessing in it, whether one understands it or not, and one ought to recite the transmitted supplications as they came from the Holy Prophet (sa)’s blessed tongue. This is a sign of love and respect. That said, one may supplicate in one’s own language even throughout the night.
Ritual Prayer ought to be done in Arabic
It is not appropriate to do the ritual prayer in one’s own language. The language in which the Holy Qur’an was kept by God Almighty should not be abandoned. However, one can express one’s needs in one’s own language before God Almighty after [the prayer in] the manner prescribed by the Sunna and its words of remembrance. However, the original language ought never be abandoned. What did the Christians gain by abandoning the original language? Nothing was left.
[Al-Hakam, May 31, 1902, p. 8]
Personal prayers can be done in your own language, however, ritual prayers, The Holy Quran, and hadith are to be said in Arabic
When you offer your prayer, besides the verses of the Quran which are the Word of God, and besides the various
[Noah’s Ark, page 110]
prayers taught by the Holy Prophet, which are the words of the Messenger, make all your other entreaties in your native tongue so that the humility and meekness that they are born of may touch your heart.
In conclusion, one must recite in Arabic during salat, The Holy Quran and prayers in hadith should be recited in Arabic only but personal prayers to God Almighty can be done in one’s own language.