He says: If you are busy performing a school assignment and you turn on the radio and find the Qur'an being recited, you fall into confusion. If you continue with the assignment while the Qur'an is being recited, is that negligence toward the Qur'an?
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The questioner : This message came to us from a Muslim student... a Muslim student. He says: If you are busy performing a school assignment and you turn on the radio and find the Qur'an being recited, you fall into confusion. If I continue with my assignment while the Qur'an is being recited, that is negligence toward the Qur'an. If I turn off the radio, that is something I am not comfortable with, because it is turning away from the remembrance of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Should I leave my assignments and listen, or what? May Allah guide you?
The Shaykh : Do not leave your assignments and listen; rather, there is no harm in turning off the radio and stopping the recitation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he listened to the recitation of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) until he reached the word of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:41] Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: and stopped him from reciting. It is permissible for a person, when listening to the Qur'an, to turn it off and limit himself to what he has listened to, provided that this does not stem from a dislike of the Qur'an.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He stopped him only for a purpose intended by the Shari'ah, as in the question of this questioner.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And his saying that he does not like to leave it reciting while he is busy with his assignments is correct. Indeed, it is an error what some people do: they have the Qur'an recited via the radio while they are talking, joking, or discussing, or looking into other matters, or being in their shops and stores selling and buying, while the recorder is reciting the Qur'an or the radio is reciting the Qur'an. This is not permissible, and it is contrary to the word of Allah the Exalted:[Al-A'raf 7:204].
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So we say: either listen to the Qur'an, or turn it off, and there is no blame on you. And I have seen many lovers of good.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And they do this: they talk, sell, and buy in their stores while the Qur'an is being recited. This is an error on their part.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They should not do that. Yes.
The Shaykh : Do not leave your assignments and listen; rather, there is no harm in turning off the radio and stopping the recitation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he listened to the recitation of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) until he reached the word of Allah the Exalted:
So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness?
فكيف إذا جئنا من كل أمة بشهيد وجئنا بك على هؤلاء شهيداThat is enough for you
حسبكThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He stopped him only for a purpose intended by the Shari'ah, as in the question of this questioner.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And his saying that he does not like to leave it reciting while he is busy with his assignments is correct. Indeed, it is an error what some people do: they have the Qur'an recited via the radio while they are talking, joking, or discussing, or looking into other matters, or being in their shops and stores selling and buying, while the recorder is reciting the Qur'an or the radio is reciting the Qur'an. This is not permissible, and it is contrary to the word of Allah the Exalted:
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention
وإذا قرئ القرأن فاستمعوا له وأنصتواThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So we say: either listen to the Qur'an, or turn it off, and there is no blame on you. And I have seen many lovers of good.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And they do this: they talk, sell, and buy in their stores while the Qur'an is being recited. This is an error on their part.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They should not do that. Yes.