[BloofPailafum]

Asalamualaikum

A close friend of mine told me he heard a sheikh say it is haram to listen to car while in the car for most people since the speakers of the car will be at or below the feet (disrespectful). I don't remember the name of the sheikh he was talking about (he said he was based in Saudi) so just want some clarification b/c I use my commute time a lot for memorizing surahs.

[Hitfaromarf]

The answer below is not directly related to your question, but will give insight into the ettiquettes of listening to Qur'an.

The reasoning of the speakers being lower may not be as important as the other ettiquettes involved.

Can I listen to the recitation of the holy Qur`an on an audio system? Would it constitute disrespecting The Holy Quran?
Answer
Assalāmu `alaikum Warahmatullāhi Wabrakatuh,

The Qur’ān is the word of Allah, The Almighty. The very intellect which enables us to listen and comprehend the Qur’ān as a form of speech is but one bounty of Allah bestowed upon us.

Whenever any verse of the Qur’ān is recited or listened to, concientise oneself that this is the speech of Allah. If one brings this consciousness within oneself, then one will show respect and reverence to the Qurān.

Consider the importance of listening to the Qur’ān from the following. The first word revealed to our beloved prophet Rasulullah salallahu ῾alayhi wasallam was “إقرأ”, which means “To read”. The very first revelation “Iqrā’” illustrates the importance of reading the Qur’ān. However, the command to read was preceded by Rasulullah salallahu ῾alayhi wasallam listening to Jibraīl alayhi salām saying “Iqra’ ”. Hence, listening to the Quran is equally important to reciting the Qur’ān.

Imam Ahmad rehmatullah ῾alayh reports a hadīth on authority of Sayiduna Abu Huraira radiallah ῾anhu that Rasulullah salallahu ῾alayhi wasallam said,

Whosoever attentively listens to an Ayah from the book of Allah High and Mighty, then a multiple reward is written in his account, and one who recites it, then he shall have a Nūr (light) on the day of reckoning. (Masnad Ahmad Vol. 14 Pg. 191)[1]

Allah says in the Qur’ān,

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا…

And when the Qur’ān is recited, then listen attentively to it and remain quiet… (Qur’ān Surah Al-῾arāf, v. 204)

In this verse, two primary etiquettes have been assigned to listening of Qur’ān.

1. Istimā῾ - To intentionally listen with attention and consideration[2]

2. To remain quiet. This instruction would require that one leaves all futile activities and remain quiet in order to pay attention to what is being recited. [3]

If someone wishes to address us and seeks our attention, it will be rude not to listen, or to listen without paying attention and consideration to what is being said. The Qur’ān is the speech of Allah addressed to us. When the Qur’ān is being recited, it is disrespectful to ignore the Qur’ān or not pay attention to the recitation.

The ῾Ulamā’ state that the listener should,

· make an effort to be in state of purity. His body should be clean from ritual impurity (i.e he should be in state of wudhu) and his clothes should be clean from any filth.[4]

· listen to Qur’ān with respect and full attention.[5]

· not engage in other futile activity that would make us unmindful of Qur’ān. (like laughing, talking etc.)[6]

· reflect upon the meaning of Qur’ān.[7]

· make sure that one does not play the Qur’ān in place where other people would disregard the recitation. It is better not to put the Qur’ān in audible voice in such areas.[8]

May Allah Ta’āla grant us the Taufīq to inculcate in us the adab of Qur’ān, Ameen.

And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best,

Faisal bin Abdul Hameed
Student, Darul Iftaa

Checked and approved by,

Muftī Ebrahim Desai
www.daruliftaa.net


[1] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ، مَوْلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ الْبَصْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: مَنِ اسْتَمَعَ إِلَى آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، كُتِبَ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ مُضَاعَفَةٌ، وَمَنْ تَلَاهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ )مسند أحمد 14/ 191(
[2] السَّمَاعُ يَكُونُ بِقَصْدٍ وَبِغَيْرِ قَصْدٍ فِي حِينَ لاَ يَكُونُ الاِسْتِمَاعُ إِلاَّ بِقَصْدٍ )الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية 25/ 239(
[3] الإِْنْصَاتُ هُوَ السُّكُوتُ وَتَرْكُ اللَّغْوِ مِنْ أَجْل السَّمَاعِ وَالاِسْتِمَاعِ )المرجع السابق(
[4] أن يكون طاهرًا من الحدثين و أن يكون نظيف الثوب والبدن )غاية المريد في علم التجويد ص: 14(
[5] أن يكون قلبُه حاضرًا؛ فيتأثر بما يقرأ تاركًا حديث النفس وأهواءها) المرجع السابق (
[6] أن يتأدب عند تلاوة القرآن الكريم، فلا يضحك، ولا يعبث ولا ينظر إلى ما يلهي بل يتدبر ويتذكر) المرجع السابق (
[7] يستحب له أن يبكي مع القراءة فإن لم يبكِ يتباكى ) المرجع السابق(
[8] يَجِبُ عَلَى الْقَارِئِ احْتِرَامُ الْقُرْآنِ بِأَنْ لاَ يَقْرَأَهُ فِي الأَْسْوَاقِ وَمَوَاضِعِ الاِشْتِغَال، فَإِذَا قَرَأَهُ فِيهِمَا كَانَ هُوَ الْمُضَيِّعُ لِحُرْمَتِهِ فَيَكُونُ الإِْثْمُ عَلَيْهِ دُونَ أَهْل الاِشْتِغَال دَفْعًا لِلْحَرَجِ فِي إِلْزَامِهِمْ تَرْكَ أَسْبَابِهِمُ الْمُحْتَاجِ إِلَيْهَا، فَلَوْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ وَبِجَنْبِهِ رَجُلٌ يَكْتُبُ الْفِقْهَ وَلاَ يُمْكِنُ الْكَاتِبَ الاِسْتِمَاعُ فَالإِْثْمُ عَلَى الْقَارِئِ لِقِرَاءَتِهِ جَهْرًا فِي مَوْضِعِ اشْتِغَال النَّاسِ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ وَلاَ شَيْءَ عَلَى الْكَاتِبِ
)الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية 33/ 63(
Is it permissible to have quran recitation going on from the computer, when the family members of the house can talk, which conflicts with the recitation?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Indeed the Qurān has a very high and lofty status in the life of every believer. Undoubtedly the Qurān is the word of Allah Ta’ala which has been revealed onto the heart of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) via the medium of the noble Angel, Jibrāeel (alaihis salaam). Thereafter it was passed on to the Sahabah (radiyallahu anhum) who preserved it by memorising it and recording it on whatever little means available. More than 1400 years have passed and this same method is being adopted. It will be absolutely correct to say that the Qurān in its present form as we recite it today is the very same way it had been revealed to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
It is a common fact today that in most places of the world the Qurān is being neglected and due importance is not given to reciting or listening to Qurān. It is also a sad reality that respect for the Qurān lack in the life of many Believers.
As far as the virtue of reciting the Qur’an is concerned, the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have mentioned:
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول الرب تبارك وتعالى من شغله القرآن عن ذكري عن و مسألتي أعطيته أفضل ما أعطي السائلين وفضل كلام الله على سائر الكلام كفضل الله على خلقه (سنن الترمذي ,ج2 ص120,سعيد)
Allah (the most glorified, the most high) says: “Whomsoever the Qur’an occupies him from making my dhikr (remembrance) and asking from me, I will grant him better than those who asked, and the virtue of the word of Allah (Qur’an) over all other words is like virtue of Allah upon his creation”
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من قرأ حرفا من كتاب الله فله به حسنة والحسنة بعشر أمثالها لا أقول الم حرف ولكن ألف حرف ولام حرف وميم حرف (سنن الترمذي ,ج2 ص119,سعيد)

“Whoever recites one letter from the book of Allah (Qur’an), he will receive one reward and every good deed is multiplied tenfold. I do not mean ا ل م is one letter, but ا is one letter, ل is one letter and م is one letter”

As far as listening to the Qur’an, once the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) requested Ibn Masood (radiyallahu anhu) “Recite some portion of the Qur’an”. Ibn Masood (radiyallahu anhu) replied: “should I read to you whilst the Qur’an has been revealed onto you?” The Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “indeed, my desire is to hear it (i.e. Qur’an) from someone other than myself”. Thereafter he recited from the beginning of Surah Nisaa until he came to the verse “how will it be when we bring a witness from every nation and we bring you as a witness against them”. When Ibn Masood lifted his gaze, he observed that the blessed eyes of the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) were tearing.
The Qur’an has tremendous powers to transform our hearts, but it will only affect our hearts if we read and listen with the correct zeal and enthusiasm. Otherwise, the Qur’an will play in the background, we will take enjoyment, but very little affect on the heart.
Very often, the Qur’an is playing on the CD player, in the car or on the computer whilst we pay no attention to the recital of the Qur’an, talking and making noise.
It is the quality of the disbelievers to make a hue and noise whilst the Qur’an is being recited hence, the Qur’an does not have a positive impact on their hearts. It is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an:
وقال الذين كفروا لا تسمعوا لهذا القرآن والغوا فيه لعلكم تغلبون (41:26)
And the disbelievers said: “do not listen to the Qur’an and rather make noise, so that you do not get overpowered (i.e. by the words of the Qur’an)”
As much as we love to listen to the Holy Qur’an and to play it wherever we may be, we should also keep in mind our surroundings and show utmost respect to the recitation. If we are in such a place that it is almost definite that noise will be made and disrespect will be shown to the Qur’an we should rather not play the Qur’an then, but when it is appropriate to do so. For example, if a person is with his family and everybody is talking, then one should not put on the recitation of the Holy Qurān. However, if everyone is silent and will attentively listen to the recitation, then one should listen to the Holy Qurān.

And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Rayhaan Docrat,

Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

[nintenda]

[MeverikcNils]

Asalamualaikum

A close friend of mine told me he heard a sheikh say it is haram to listen to car while in the car for most people since the speakers of the car will be at or below the feet (disrespectful). I don't remember the name of the sheikh he was talking about (he said he was based in Saudi) so just want some clarification b/c I use my commute time a lot for memorizing surahs.

what about when a person is in sujood and is taking the name of Allah just behind someone's feet?

[QzVyZbTg]

Jazak brothers thanks for making sense of this i personally didn't agree with this and whenever I find myself not paying attention to the Quran or if someone starts talking I swithc it off.

[adariseediups]

What if you sit in the second floor of the Masjid and the speakers are from the basement. Qari recites the Quran, what to do?

[Klorissana]

Interesting! Let me ask my question as well. What about reciting Quran Kareem while mind is wandering somewhere else and lips and part of mind is still reciting ayah? This mostly happens with me while reciting (while driving) long Surahs.

[strongjannabiz]

In certain type of car, speaker placed at below, near passenger feet, or even under passenger seat. Maybe this shaykh had experience rode car like this, the driver played Qur'an in car audio to please the shaykh. But instead of pleased, this shaykh felt uncomfortable because the voice out from speaker near his feet.