Is It Haram to Read the Quran in English Transliteration?
A clear, respectful look at whether reading the Quran in transliteration is permissible, whether it counts, and how it compares to reading the Arabic.
This page explains the mainstream scholarly view in plain language to help you understand the topic. It is not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own situation, please ask a qualified scholar you trust.
The short answer
The widely held scholarly position is that reading the Qur'an in English transliteration is permissible as a learning aid for someone who cannot yet read the Arabic script. When you read transliteration, you are pronouncing the actual Arabic words of the Qur'an using Latin letters — so you are still reciting, and the effort is rewarded. It is not treated the same as reading a translation, which conveys only the meaning.
The key point scholars emphasise is direction: transliteration should be a bridge toward reading the original Arabic, not a permanent substitute for it. That is because no Latin spelling can fully capture certain Arabic sounds, so transliteration is always an approximation of correct recitation.
Reading transliteration vs. reading a translation
These two are often confused, but they are not the same act:
- Transliteration — the Arabic words, written in English letters (e.g. Bismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm). You are reciting the Qur'an's words, approximately.
- Translation — the meaning of the verses in English (e.g. "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"). You are reading about the Qur'an, which is valuable for understanding but is not recitation.
Both are worthwhile. Understanding the meaning through translation and reciting the words through transliteration work best together — which is why every surah on this site shows Arabic, transliteration, and translation on one screen.
Moving from transliteration to Arabic
Since the goal is to read the Arabic itself, the most useful next step is to learn the letters and sounds gradually while you keep reciting. A practical path:
- Start with the transliteration pronunciation key so you know what each mark (ā, ḥ, ʿ, ṣ, ḍ) sounds like.
- Read short surahs while listening to the word-by-word audio, matching the Roman script to the reciter's voice.
- Read the Arabic and the transliteration together so your eye begins to connect each sound to its Arabic letter.
- See reading the Quran in Roman script for more on how transliteration works and its limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is it haram to read the Quran in English transliteration?
No, reading the Quran in English transliteration is not considered haram by the mainstream scholarly view. Transliteration is treated as a permissible learning aid for people who cannot yet read the Arabic script — it helps you pronounce the actual Arabic words rather than replacing them. Scholars do stress two things: it should be a stepping stone toward reading the original Arabic, and you should still handle and respect the Quran's words appropriately. For a ruling on your personal situation, ask a qualified local scholar.
Does reading the transliteration of the Quran count?
Yes, reading the transliteration of the Quran counts. When you read transliteration you are pronouncing the Arabic words of the Quran using Latin letters, so you are still reciting the Quran, and the intention and effort to recite are rewarded — a well-known narration teaches that the one who reads the Quran with difficulty receives a double reward. What transliteration cannot do is perfectly capture every Arabic sound, so the recitation is approximate. Reading from the Arabic script remains the goal, but your reading in transliteration is meaningful and counts.
Is reading the Quran in English the same reward as reading it in Arabic?
There is an important distinction. Reading an English translation is reading the meaning of the Quran — valuable and encouraged for understanding, but it is not recitation of the Quran itself. Reading transliteration is different: you are pronouncing the Arabic words, so it is recitation, just in an approximate form. The complete reward described for reciting the Arabic Quran is tied to the original Arabic words and their precise pronunciation, which is exactly why scholars encourage moving from transliteration toward the Arabic script over time.
Is it OK to read the Quran in transliteration during Ramadan?
Yes. If you cannot yet read Arabic, reading the Quran in transliteration during Ramadan is a valid and praiseworthy way to connect with it, complete portions, and follow along in taraweeh. It is far better to engage with the Quran through transliteration than to leave it unread. Use the month as motivation to also begin learning the Arabic letters, so that next Ramadan you can read more of it directly.
Is it permissible to read the Quran without tajweed?
Reciting with tajweed is how the Quran was conveyed and is strongly encouraged, and it becomes especially important where mispronunciation would change a word's meaning. That said, a beginner who cannot yet apply tajweed is not sinful for reading simply and carefully while learning — you recite to the best of your ability and improve over time. Transliteration paired with audio recitation is one of the best ways to start hearing correct tajweed before you can read the Arabic script.
Can transliteration replace reading the Arabic Quran?
No, and it is not meant to. Several Quranic Arabic sounds — such as ع, ح, ق, ض — have no exact equivalent in English, so even careful transliteration with diacritics is only an approximation. Think of transliteration as training wheels: it lets you begin reciting today while you learn, but the destination is reading the Arabic script itself. Every surah on this site shows the Arabic, the transliteration, the translation, and word-by-word audio side by side to help you make that transition.