What is the ruling on speaking while the Qur'an is being recited in public gatherings?

The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the ruling on speaking while the Qur'an is being recited in public gatherings, as when a recording of the Qur'an is playing and a group of people are talking? What is the ruling on this action?

The Shaykh : Allah the Exalted said: So if we have a recorder from which the reciter's voice is coming out, we must either turn off this recorder or listen to it. As for remaining in our idle talk and conversation as if we are not hearing anything but human voices, this is contrary to the proper conduct with the Qur'an. So we say: either turn off the recorder or listen to it. Yes, even if one person is listening and the rest are engaged in idle talk, that one person should lower his voice so that only he can hear it. Yes.