622. Can I Make Duaa In My Salaah During Sujood In My Own Language?

By Asma bint Shameem

For sure, we are the closest to Allaah in salah in the position of sajdah, as per the hadeeth of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

He Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said:

“The closest that any one of you may be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a lot of du’aa’ at that time.” (Muslim)

So we should make use of this beautiful time and make duaa to Allaah for all our needs. 

And we should make duaa in Arabic, if we know the language. 

BUT, if we're like the majority of the Ummah, and don't know Arabic, then what?

What would a person do?

Alhamdulillaah our Deen is easy and our Rabb is Most Loving. 

It is *allowed* to make duaa in your own language if you don’t know Arabic. 

Actually you can make duaa in ANY language in the Salaah while prostrating or in any position where duaa is allowed, according to the stronger scholarly opinion. 

How can it be that we're not allowed to ask Allaah or beseech Him just because we're not Arab?

It goes against the very Mercy of Allaah Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala. 

Allaah is the Most Merciful and He's the One Who created all languages. 

Would He deprive someone of the blessing of making duaa just because they don't know Arabic?

Of course that cannot be!

He knows all languages and He hears all people making duaa to Him. 

And He responds to all of them. 

After all, isn't He's as-Samee', the All-Hearing, and al-Mujeeb, the One Who responds?

Surely, He wouldn't deprive us!

Ibn Taymiyah said: 

“It is permissible to make du’aa’ in Arabic and in languages other than Arabic. Allaah knows the intention of the supplicant and what he wants, no matter what language he speaks, because He hears all the voices in all different languages, asking for all kinds of needs.”

(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 22/488-489)

So go ahead and ask Him in your own language, in all the positions wherever duaa is permitted and in ALL of your Salaah. 

What about the FARDH Salaah?

It’s allowed to make duaa in any language EVEN in the fardh Salaah if you don’t know Arabic. 

That’s because there’s NO PROOF in the Sharee’ah that prevents us from making duaa in our own language in the fardh Salaah. 

The hadeeth that encourages us to make duaa in the sujood is GENERAL and does NOT specify making duaa only in Sunnah or Nafl. 

So we cannot limit something in the Sharee’ah unless there’s proof. 

Someone asked the scholars of the Standing Committee:

“Is it permissible for a person to supplicate to Allaah in Salaah in any language? 

Will their Salaah be valid?”

The scholars said:

“The Muslim should supplicate to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala 

with humility and in secret without asking for unlawful things. 

A person may supplicate to Allaah both during Salaah and at other occasions, in whatever language they speak. 

Salaah is considered valid even if the person supplicates to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala in a language other than Arabic.”

(Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’)

Another point to think about is, the duaa that has more chances of being accepted is that which comes from the HEART. 

If we don't really understand what we're saying, it's not going to have that intensity, that power, that sincerity....

Those tears won't come if we don't know what we're saying.  

DO however, try and LEARN the duaas in Arabic that are from the Qur'aan and authentic Sunnah, in the meantime. 

How to make the duaa? 

1. Say the prescribed tasbeeh of sajdah, meaning Subhaana Rabbi al-Aa’laa. 

2. Then make your duaa and do so with an attentive heart and full concentration, humbly. 

3. Have confidence and good hopes with Allaah that He listened to you. 

And Allaah knows best.