The ruling on one who equates listening to songs with the recitation of the Qur'an

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, he says: I advised a man against listening to songs while he was in his car listening to them, so I played for him a tape containing the recitation of the Qur'an. I asked him which of the two is better? He said they are the same. We ask Allah for safety. Does he commit disbelief? And is he excused due to his ignorance of this statement?

Answer:
This is a very serious statement. This is a statement that appears to be disbelief. It appears to be disbelief unless there is evidence of his ignorance and that he did not intend this in this matter. He may have said it out of stubbornness, as you angered him. The caller should come with wisdom and gentleness. He may anger him, and then he says a word of disbelief because of the anger. In any case, it is a serious word. There is no doubt that it is a word of disbelief, but he may not have intended this; rather, anger or ignorance carried him to say it. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you