What is the ruling on listening to the Qur'an, tapes, and the radio while working?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : All right, Shaykh Muhammad, what about listening to the Qur'an from tapes or the radio while one is at work?
The Shaykh : This is easier than recitation, because the person is not reciting.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But he is listening, and listening is not obligatory.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : For this reason, Imam Ahmad said regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted,[Al-A'raf 7:204], that this applies during prayer. As for other than prayer, a person is free; if he wishes, he listens to the reciter, and if he wishes, he does not listen and occupies himself with something else. However, he should not occupy himself while listening to the Qur'an with something that is not compatible with the Qur'an, because if he does so, he resembles the statement of the polytheists, [Fussilat 41:26]. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. If a woman visits the city of the Messenger...
The Shaykh : On this occasion, I would like to
The questioner : Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : I would like to remind you that some shops, may Allah reward them with good and guide them,
The questioner : Amen.
The Shaykh : turn on the recorder to a reciter among the reciters, while the people in their shop are occupied with bargaining and talk that may be idle chatter not befitting the voice of the reciter and his recitation. For this reason, we advise our brothers, the shopkeepers, not to do this, because the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is too great to be heard in a place where it is not listened to or given attention; rather, idle chatter that contradicts the Qur'an may occur. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : This is easier than recitation, because the person is not reciting.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But he is listening, and listening is not obligatory.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : 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 تُرحَمونَDo not listen to this Qur'an and speak noisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome."
لا تسمعوا لهذا القرءان والغوا فيه لعلكم تغلبونThe questioner : May Allah bless you. If a woman visits the city of the Messenger...
The Shaykh : On this occasion, I would like to
The questioner : Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : I would like to remind you that some shops, may Allah reward them with good and guide them,
The questioner : Amen.
The Shaykh : turn on the recorder to a reciter among the reciters, while the people in their shop are occupied with bargaining and talk that may be idle chatter not befitting the voice of the reciter and his recitation. For this reason, we advise our brothers, the shopkeepers, not to do this, because the Book of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is too great to be heard in a place where it is not listened to or given attention; rather, idle chatter that contradicts the Qur'an may occur. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.