What is the ruling on listening to the recitation of the Qur'an? Is it obligatory or recommended? And how should one act if he is working in a grocery store or at his workplace while listening to the Qur'an?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on listening to the recitation of the Qur'an? Is it obligatory or recommended? And how should one act if he is working in a grocery store or at his workplace while listening to the Noble Qur'an, moving about, speaking to people, going and coming?
The Shaykh : Yes. Listening to the recitation of the reciter is commanded if the listener is following this reciter, like the ma'mum behind the imam who is praying a prayer with loud recitation. For this reason, Imam Ahmad said regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:204] They agreed that this is in prayer. And the hadith came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 1236 and in it: .
As for the one who is reciting next to you, you are not obligated to listen to him. Rather, you may recite on your own, remember Allah on your own, and review the books in front of you, even if the reciter is next to you, because you do not intend to listen to him.
As for what some people do by placing a recorder in the shop that recites the Qur'an, amidst the noise of voices in this shop, and there may be idle talk and forbidden speech, I do not approve of this. I fear that this is a form of disrespecting the Qur'an. This is sufficient by recording narrated wisdoms and listening to them, because the Qur'an is more noble and greater than to be placed in such a place where there is much idle talk and false speech.
So we advise our brothers who listen to recorders in their shops, and they intend good, if Allah wills, not to do so, because I fear that this is a form of demeaning the Qur'an. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes. Listening to the recitation of the reciter is commanded if the listener is following this reciter, like the ma'mum behind the imam who is praying a prayer with loud recitation. For this reason, Imam Ahmad said regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted:
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
وَإِذا قُرِئَ القُرءانُ فَاستَمِعوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتوا لَعَلَّكُم تُرحَمونَThe Imam is to be followed
إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم بهAnd when he recites, then be silent.
وإذا قرأ فأنصتواAs for the one who is reciting next to you, you are not obligated to listen to him. Rather, you may recite on your own, remember Allah on your own, and review the books in front of you, even if the reciter is next to you, because you do not intend to listen to him.
As for what some people do by placing a recorder in the shop that recites the Qur'an, amidst the noise of voices in this shop, and there may be idle talk and forbidden speech, I do not approve of this. I fear that this is a form of disrespecting the Qur'an. This is sufficient by recording narrated wisdoms and listening to them, because the Qur'an is more noble and greater than to be placed in such a place where there is much idle talk and false speech.
So we advise our brothers who listen to recorders in their shops, and they intend good, if Allah wills, not to do so, because I fear that this is a form of demeaning the Qur'an. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.