Is it permissible to recite the Qur'an while doing household chores?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : This caller from Riyadh says, "O honorable Shaykh, is it permissible to recite the Qur'an while doing household chores? I hope the honorable Shaykh will give a rewardable answer?"
The Shaykh : Reciting the Qur'an is one of the best forms of worship, bringing the servant closer to his Lord and earning him a great reward, for whoever recites the Qur'an receives ten good deeds for every letter. The purpose of reciting the Qur'an, in addition to worshipping Allah the Mighty and Majestic, is to understand its meanings so that a person can act upon it. This is why this blessed Qur'an was revealed. Allah the Exalted said:[Sad 38:29] Since this is the case, it is incumbent upon the one who recites the Qur'an to be mindful of what he is reciting and to reflect on its meaning, and not to occupy his heart and limbs with anything else, whether household chores or other tasks. If Allah the Exalted commanded those who hear the Qur'an to listen to it and pay attention to it until their hearts are present and they reflect on what they hear, then the reciter is even more deserving of this. Therefore, we say to the woman who is occupied with household chores or other work, such as sewing or the like, that she should not recite the Qur'an while she is occupied. Rather, she should devote herself to it when she wants to recite the Qur'an, so that she may reflect on the meaning of the words of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. If she loves to utilize her time in what brings her closer to Allah, in addition to doing her household work, she has the remembrance of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. She can remember Allah, praise Allah, glorify Allah, declare the greatness of Allah, and seek forgiveness from Allah. In these dhikr, the heart is present when they are recited during work, because each word represents an independent meaning. One finds that a person is mindful of the meaning of these words, namely tasbih, tahmid, takbir, and istighfar, even if he is working.
In summary, we say that if a woman is occupied with her household chores or other work, she should not recite the Qur'an, because it is incumbent upon the reciter of the Qur'an to be mindful of it when reciting it. The Qur'an is too noble for the tongue to be occupied with it while the heart is heedless of it.
As for dhikr, I hope there is no harm in a person remembering Allah the Exalted while he is occupied with work.
The Shaykh : Reciting the Qur'an is one of the best forms of worship, bringing the servant closer to his Lord and earning him a great reward, for whoever recites the Qur'an receives ten good deeds for every letter. The purpose of reciting the Qur'an, in addition to worshipping Allah the Mighty and Majestic, is to understand its meanings so that a person can act upon it. This is why this blessed Qur'an was revealed. Allah the Exalted said:
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
كِتابٌ أَنزَلناهُ إِلَيكَ مُبارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّروا ءاياتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الأَلبابِIn summary, we say that if a woman is occupied with her household chores or other work, she should not recite the Qur'an, because it is incumbent upon the reciter of the Qur'an to be mindful of it when reciting it. The Qur'an is too noble for the tongue to be occupied with it while the heart is heedless of it.
As for dhikr, I hope there is no harm in a person remembering Allah the Exalted while he is occupied with work.