What is the ruling on the Qur’ān being played while people aren’t paying attention to it?
Allāh says in the Qur’ān,
(وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ) الأعراف 204
“So when the Qur’an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.”
The famous scholar of Tafseer from the last century Ash-Sheikh al-Allāmah Abdul Rahman bin Nasir as-Sa’dee رحمه الله said: “Be silent in appearance- stop talking and leave things that will distract you from listening. How to listen attentively to the Qur’ān is, to dedicate his ears to it, to be present with his heart and to ponder upon the verses that he hears. For indeed, when Allāh’s book is being recited, if these two things (being silent and listening attentively) are made Mulazama(combined) he will gain lot of goodness, plentiful knowledge, continuous renewal of his Imān, increase in guidance, and gain wisdom in religion (beneficial knowledge).”
Dear brother! Compare the above words with what is mentioned in the question. If he keeps playing the Qur’ān while playing games, reading stories, chatting in social media, having fun etc., this person should be asked, is this giving honour, high status, and virtue to the Qur’ān? Allāh, the One who creates out of nothing, has revealed that if He revealed the Qur’ān on a mountain, that huge strong mountain would crumble into little pieces out of fear. But look at the action of man!
Dear brother! I fear that this will come under the category of making Hajr of the Qur’ān (ignoring, leaving out, dishonouring, and not giving any respect to the Qur’ān).
(وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا)
“And the Messenger has said, O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’an as [a thing] abandoned.”
Dear brother! When a TV program is being shown but the people in the house are busy with their own things, what would you say? You would say that they aren’t giving any attention to it. Is this how the Qur’ān is also to be treated? Think about this! Reflect upon it with your intellect.
I will mention some words of the people of knowledge.
Al-Imām Muḥammad bin Sālih al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله said, “I say to the brother who questioned about playing the Qur’ān while others are engaged in other things. Do not play the Qur’ān. They are similar to those Allāh mentioned in the Ayah (in my view).
(وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَا تَسْمَعُوا لِهَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَالْغَوْا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ)
“And those who disbelieve say, Listen not to this Quran, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome”.
If your brothers are engaged in talking to each other. Then, do not play the Qur’ān….”
Imām Uthaymeen رحمه الله also said,
“If a recording of the Qur’ān is being played and people around are talking, you should either switch it off or everyone should listen to the Qur’ān.”
لقاء الباب المفتوح: [٦]
Ash-Sheikh al-Allāmah Sālih al-Fawzan حفظه الله said,
“If you listen to the Qur’ān, it’s a good thing. However, if you sleep without listening to the Qur’ān, it is not going to benefit you.”
These are the words of those whose knowledge is trusted by the whole world, by the entire Ummah. If you seek knowledge of scholars who are completely trustworthy in this world, return to the words of these scholars. Be warned of the people of corruption who bring words and actions over the words of these scholars.
