The translation of the Qur’an is not considered Qur’an. It falls under the category of tafsir (explanation), because the Qur’an is defined as the Arabic wording revealed to our Master Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. For this reason, the jurists رحمهم الله تعالى stated that reading Qur’an as translation is not prohibited for someone in a state of major impurity, such as a person who is junub or a woman in menstruation.
Based on this, the one who reads a translation of the Qur’an receives the reward of reading tafsir, but not the reward of one who recites the Qur’an itself.
A Muslim must also know that learning Surah al Fatiha is obligatory at the very least, because it is a pillar without which the prayer is not valid. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book.” Agreed upon.
Imam al Nawawi said in Al Majmu: “Our school (the Shafi‘i school) holds that it is not permissible to recite the Qur’an in a language other than Arabic, whether a person is capable of reciting in Arabic or incapable, and whether inside the prayer or outside it. If he recites a translation in the prayer instead of the Qur’anic recitation, his prayer is invalid, whether he is able to recite properly in Arabic or not. This is our position, and it is the position of the majority of the scholars, including Malik, Ahmad and Dawud.” End quote.
Imam Ibn Qudamah said in Al Mughni: “It is not sufficient to recite the Qur’an in a non-Arabic language, nor to replace its wording with a different Arabic wording, whether one is able to recite it properly in Arabic or not. This is also the opinion of al Shafi‘i, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad.” End quote.
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