I want to know whether it is permissible for the adhaan to be in a language other than Arabic? Is it permissible, for example, to translate the adhaan so that people will understand it?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The majority of
fuqaha’ are of the view that the adhaan is not valid in any language other
than Arabic.
It says in
al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah (11/170): Translating the adhaan: if the
adhaan is given in Farsi or any language other than Arabic, then the correct
view according to the Hanafis and Hanbalis is that it is not valid, even if
it is known that this is a call to prayer. This is the apparent view of the
Maalikis, because they stipulated concerning the adhaan that it must be in
the prescribed wording. The Shaafa‘is discussed the matter further and said:
If it is a call to prayer in congregation, and among them are those who know
Arabic well, then it is not acceptable to give the adhaan in any other
language, but it is acceptable if there is no one among them who knows
Arabic well. But if a person is giving the adhaan for himself, if he knows
Arabic well then it is not acceptable to give the adhaan in any other
language, but if he does not know Arabic well, then it is acceptable. End
quote.
See: Badaa’i‘
as-Sanaa’i‘, 1/113; ad-Durr al-Mukhtaar ma‘a Ibn ‘Aabideen,
1/485; al-Majmoo‘, 3/137; al-Insaaf, 1/413
With regard to
translating it for the purpose of teaching its meaning in schools and the
like, there is nothing wrong with that.
And Allah knows best.
