Q 1: How should we supplicate to Allah (may He be Exalted)? Is it permissible for a person to supplicate to Allah in Salah (Prayer) in any language? Will their Salah be valid?
A: The Muslim should supplicate to Allah (may He be Exalted) with humility and in secret without asking for unlawful things. A person may supplicate to Allah both during Salah and at other occasions, in whatever language they speak. Salah is considered valid even if the person supplicates to Allah (may He be Exalted) in a language other than Arabic. When supplicating to Allah (may He be Exalted) during Salah, a person should use the Du`a’ (supplication) that are authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and recite them where and how the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited them so as to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Many scholars wrote books on the Du`a’ and Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis) of the Prophet (peace be upon him), such as (Al-Kalim Al-Tayyib) by Ibn Tayymiah, (Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib) by Ibn Al-Qayyim, and (Riyad Al-Salihin) and (Al-Adhkar) by Al-Nawawy. You can buy any of these books to know the authentically reported Du`a’ and Adhkar, and how and when they should be said. This is better and of great benefit to you.
May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
