Question Summary:
I can’t read the Quran in it’s original language(Arabic). What should I do?

Question Detail:

Am a Nigerian, 23yr old. I was unable to attend a madrasa while i was a kid due to the inhumane behaviours of the alims. So when I grew up and started observing my solah when due and practising my islam with conscience I started having this feeling of been an inferior muslim simply because I can't read the Quran in Arabic. I have tried getting a teacher to put me through but after few days we get disconnected because of some other engagements. Though I have a Roman transliteration version which consists both Arabic and english. So am asking will Allah punish me for not learning or failing to read the Quran in Arabic? Or will he reward me for reading the english version becuase I once heard someone saying Allah rewards one for every letter he/she pronounces in the Quran. Please I'll be expecting your response. Jazakum Allah khairan in anticipation.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
May Allah reward you for your efforts to learn the Quran and give you the determination to continue learning regularly. Ameen.
Dear Brother: It is a blessing and favor of Allah upon you that you are performing salah and are eager to read the Quran. Know that Allah is All-Aware and All-Knowing of what you do and you will Insha-Allah see the great rewards of your good deeds in the hereafter [akhirah].
It is our sincere advice to you that you make learning to read the Quran in Arabic a priority. Schedule a regular time with a teacher even if it is just once a week and stick to it. In a hadith,  Rasulullah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) has informed us that:
“The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Quran will be with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who falters in reciting the Quran and finds it difficult to recite will have two rewards.”
The two rewards promised to the one who finds it difficult to recite the Quran include one reward for the recitation of the Quran and another reward for the difficulty encountered by him. [i]
Encourage and comfort yourself with this hadith and imagine the everlasting rewards that Allah has stored for you in Paradise, Insha-Allah.
In the dunya, we see that people are continuously striving to gain more money and prestige. Business owners want to expand their business and make it bigger and better. Employees want promotions and are willing to get better qualifications or take on difficult work to get a higher position.
You are a believer and a believer is continuously seeking to gain more and more rewards from Allah. The immense rewards that Allah has kept in the akhirah are ever-lasting and infinitely better than anything and everything in this world. So don't let your life go by like this. Make it a priority to learn to read the Quran and make dua to Allah to make it easy for you.
We make dua that Allah make it easy for you and Insha-Allah we hope to hear back from you that you have learned to read the Quran.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Sohail ibn Arif,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
 
قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم الماهر بالقرآن مع السفرة الكرام البررة والذي يقرأ القرآن ويتتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له [i]
 أجران وفي الرواية الأخرى وهو يشتد عليه له أجران السفرة جميع سافر ككاتب وكتبة والسافر الرسول والسفرة الرسل لأنهم يسفرون إلى الناس برسالات الله وقيل السفرة الكتبة والبررة المطيعون من البر وهو الطاعة والماهر الحاذق الكامل الحفظ الذي لا يتوقف ولا يشق عليه القراءة بجودة حفظه وإتقانه قال القاضي يحتمل أن يكون معنى كونه مع الملائكة أن له في الآخرة منازل يكون فيها رفيقا للملائكة السفرة لاتصافه بصفتهم من حمل كتاب الله تعالى قال ويحتمل أن يراد أنه عامل بعملهم وسالك مسلكهم وأما الذي يتتعتع فيه فهو الذي يتردد في تلاوته لضعف حفظه فله أجران أجر بالقراءة وأجر بتتعتعه في تلاوته ومشقته قال القاضي وغيره من العلماء وليس معناه الذي يتتعتع عليه له من الأجر أكثر من الماهر به بل الماهر أفضل وأكثر أجرا لأنه مع السفرة وله أجور كثيرة ولم يذكر هذه المنزلة لغيره وكيف يلحق به من لم يعتن بكتاب الله تعالى وحفظه وإتقانه وكثرة تلاوته وروايته كاعتنائه حتى مهر فيه والله أعلم
 شرح النووي على مسلم، ٦/ ٨٤ - ٨٥