QUESTION:
What do the scholars of the Din and muftis of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: Can I listen to the Qur’ān while studying so that I am not distracted and to focus and concentrate on my studies. Is it essential for me to listen to the recitation attentively?
Questioner: Ilyas from England
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
When the Qur’ān is recited, it is thereby Fard to remain quiet and listen to it attentively. Just as Allāh Almighty has stated,
{وَاِذَا قُرِیَٔ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوۡا لَہٗ وَاَنۡصِتُوۡا لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُوۡنَ}
{And when the Qur’ān is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent, so that you may receive mercy}
[Sūrah al-A’rāf, 204]
Although, this is in the case when the Qur’ān is actually being recited by someone. Moreover, it is in fact also better in the case of the recorded form of the Qur’ān that one remain silent and listen to it attentively out of reverence to it, so that the respect and awe of the Holy Qur’ān remains intact. Whereas, when studying, a person’s full attention is focused on this i.e. the studying part, and thus the ears and heart will not be paying any attention at all towards the recital of the Holy Qur’ān.
Our Noble Jurists have also regarded the recitation of the Qur’ān as Makrūh [disliked] when a person is so busy and delved into something that his heart is totally engrossed in that task, such that said person is not attentive whatsoever towards the recitation.
Just as it is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī’at that recitation (of the Qur’ān) whilst walking and working is also permissible, provided that one’s attention is not diverted (i.e. one is not distracted), otherwise to do so is Makrūh [disliked].
[Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol 1, part 3, pg 551]
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0739] Can I have the Qur’an recitation playing whilst I am studying or doing some other task?
Also see:
[Q-ID0362] Can I listen to naat/nasheeds during child birth?
[Q-ID0618] Is it obligatory to listen to recorded audio of the Qur’an or Adhaan?