Short answer
The meanings of the Quran can and should be translated, and translations are a great help. But a translation is not the Quran itself: it is a human rendering of its meaning. So salah must be in Arabic, the reward of recitation belongs to the Arabic, and translations are called "the meaning of the Quran". The four schools agree.
Translating the meanings of the Quran for understanding and dawah is permissible and praiseworthy. A translation does not take the rulings of the Quran: reciting it in salah is not valid as recitation, and a copy without Arabic text is not a mushaf. Abu Hanifa's early view allowing Persian in salah was retracted.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Why a translation is not the Quran. The Quran is the exact words of Allah in Arabic (12:2, 26:195). Every translator chooses one meaning among several, loses wordplay and rhythm, and adds his own understanding. That is why scholars call them "translations of the meanings" and why Muslims around the world still learn the Arabic. Allah challenged people to produce even one surah like it (2:23), and no translation is that surah.
Why translations are still needed. Every messenger was sent in the language of his people to make the message clear (14:4), and the Prophet ﷺ sent letters with ayat to rulers who did not speak Arabic, through interpreters. Reading a translation helps you understand and reflect, which the Quran asks of you. Scholars of every school have translated it into Persian, Turkish, Urdu, English and hundreds of other languages.
What follows from this:
- Salah must be recited in Arabic: see praying salah in English.
- The ten rewards per letter are for reciting the Arabic: see reading the Quran in English only.
- A translation without the Arabic text is not a mushaf: see touching a translation.
- Choose a translation by a reliable Muslim scholar, and read a commentary for the hard passages.
AmalKit shows the Sahih International English beside the Arabic for this reason: see the Quran.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Yusuf 12:2
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢﴾
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.
The Quran is Arabic speech.
Quran, Surah Ibrahim 14:4
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ۖ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿٤﴾
And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allah sends astray [thereby] whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Conveying the message in people's languages is part of the prophetic mission.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:23
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍۢ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍۢ مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾
And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.
The Quran's wording is inimitable, which no translation reproduces.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the description of prayer, on reciting in Persian. The discussion of Abu Hanifa's view and its retraction; recitation in salah must be Arabic.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, on recitation in a language other than Arabic. A translation is not Quran and does not take its rulings.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.