Is it obligatory to pronounce the letter "hāʾ" in "Alhamdulillah" in Arabic when reciting adhkar, or is it permissible to pronounce it in English?
The articulatory point of the letter "H" in English is close to that of the Arabic letter Hāʼ (ه), and may be somewhat close to that of Ḥāʼ (ح). If someone pronounces the Arabic Hāʼ with an English accent, without intending to do so, due to the prevalence of foreign influence and their inability to distinguish, there is no sin upon them, based on the Almighty's saying: "So fear Allah as much as you are able." However, if they do so intentionally, while being capable of correct Arabic pronunciation, they are to be prohibited from it, as they are not performing the prescribed (remembrance) in its proper form. This involves turning away from Arabic to a foreign language without excuse. The scholars have disliked speaking in a foreign tongue unnecessarily.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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