Question:

Is recitation of the Qur’aan in other than arabic rewarded? For example, reading Surah Kahf in english to gain its benefit?

Answer:

Imam Ibn Qudamah rahimahullah said:

“Recitation [of the Quran] in other than Arabic is not rewarded/counted nor is its wordings substituted with [other] Arabic wordings whether this person’s recitation is good in Arabic or not good..”

[al-Mughni (1/562)]

And Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said:

“As for the recitation of a man to himself [in other than Arabic] then it is not allowed according to the majority of the People of Knowledge. Not in prayer nor outside of prayer”

[Bayaan Talbees al-Jahmiyyah (2/389)]

So based on this, one should recite the Quran only in Arabic and that includes reciting surah al-Kahf on Jummah. It should be recited in Arabic in order to get the rewards as mention in the Hadith about its virtue.

And Allah Knows best

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan