Question Summary:
Is it permissible to use numerals instead of English letters to make the pronunciation of Arabic words more accurate?

Question Detail:

Can franco arabic b termed as a bidah or threat for further fitna? People of arab have started using some numericals instead of english letters in order to make the pronounciation better as arabic words cannot b pronounced as it is in eng.for instance they use '3' for 'ع'.as such they say assalamu 3leikum.it is just to ease things neither added to the deen nor is done in hope of getting rewards as such it shouldnt b term as bidah.but a fren said it should b avoided as the shias had done this n they infact changed the original quranic arabic texts with such numbers.even though if its just to ease but it may gradually b used for aayahs too.can u briefly explain me if this is okay or should it b avoided coz as for my view i feel it is similar to some other language rather then arabic.so it should b of no harm.do guide me pls if am going wrong

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There is nothing wrong in using numerals instead of English letters to make the pronunciation of Arabic words more accurate when written in English.
No change is occurring to the original Arabic words. Rather, only the transliteration of those words in English are being modified as in the example you have given, “assalamu 3leikum” with the letter 3 denoting an “'ain” so a reader is able to distinguish it properly.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Sohail ibn Arif,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.