Need help with Arabic dua translation and transliteration.

[BigJoeNobody]

my understanding is no translation works as well as the original...

As I said, for Quran, That is true. Duas can be from the Quran or Hadith, or made up. The last 2 the language isn't AS important... it is my understanding, that when making Dua, the most important thing is to know what you are asking about/for.

it is exactly the way I'd think it would be done but now by your putting it into words it seems quite possible that the other way would be better

Most people are content with memorizing the words. Especially those born into the religion. And that is because most of them know there is great reward in reading and memorizing. I come from outside (kindof, and I see more and more that I've always pretty much had MOST of the same beliefs I do now, and when reading the Bible from an Islamic perspective, I can more easily understand what the original teachers appear to have tried to say, and where the people recording seem to have veered off), but coming from the outside it allows me to examine IF this religion is true by heavy scrutiny without the "That's just how it is" approach. If something doesn't make sense, I go and ask for an explanation and proof (textual/environmental/etc).

finally...

there is meaning and poetry which is lost

the poetry is most definitely lost, however the meaning, if reading with multiple translations, is not so far from the original meaning.

 

[StevePame]

but coming from the outside it allows me to examine IF this religion is true by heavy scrutiny without the "That's just how it is" approach. If something doesn't make sense, I go and ask for an explanation and proof (textual/environmental/etc).

I think that's an important facet of religion that people aren't always able to appreciate. With a little bit of distance and coming around to the religion on your own terms, it allows you to actually have a greater understanding of the nuances and significance. I always find it a bit frustrating when I ask someone what something means in their religion or why something is done in a certain way, and they simply shrug and say 'That's how I learned to do it.' That's fine for some people but I think that limits the fullness of what their religion might provide and, in some ways, people are shortchanging themselves.

 

[Amica]

Thank you all for your support. I think that non-Arabic natives are definitely in disadvantage. Not that Allah SWT demands we only pray to Him in Arabic. No. He understands ALL languages, of course. I think we get stuck with the fact that the best understanding and the most close to Qur'an one can be is through Arabic language. I still read the Noble Qur'an in English and my native Bosnian, because I believe some reading is better than no reading. If I get unclear about a verse I do research and pray for guidance. I find that Muslim scholars do a rather good job in explaining interpretations of the meaning and if one is willing to open their minds they can grasp information.

Arabic is a difficult language One mispronunciation can make a whole difference in the meaning of what is said. For example, the "k" vs. "g" sound in "Allahu Akbar." One mistake and one may not know what they are saying! It is not like in my native language where one says: "Ja te lolim," where it is 100% understood that the person is trying to say "Ja te volim." One letter difference, same meaning. Arabic, that it is a different story.

 

[BigJoeNobody]

and yet you should have thousands of teachers to help you perfect it at your disposal. Keep up the effort, it will come (I say that as I'm trying to memorize Fatihah in arabic.