Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
It is permitted to listen to the Quran whilst working providing one remains attentive and does not speak over the Holy Quran.
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
When the Quran is recited, listen to it, and remain attentive. So that you attain (divine) Mercy. (Surah al-Araaf, 204).
As we see in the verse above, one must listen to the Holy Quran when it is recited. It is contrary to etiquette to speak over the Holy Quran. There is no prohibition upon reciting or listening to the Holy Quran whilst engaging in other activities. On condition that one remains attentive to the Holy Quran.
Therefore, it is permitted for one to listen to the Holy Quran or recite it whilst driving, working, exercising etc. Provided that one remains attentive. This has been expressly mentioned by Hanafi scholars in classical works of jurisprudence (Fiqh).
وَلَوْ قَرَأَ مَاشِيًا أَوْ عِنْدَ النَّسْجِ وَنَحْوِهِ مِنْ الْأَعْمَالِ أَوْ هِيَ عِنْدَ الْغَزْلِ وَنَحْوِهِ، إنْ كَانَ الْقَلْبُ حَاضِرًا غَيْرَ مُشْتَغِلٍ لَا يُكْرَهُ. (فتح القدير)
If he recites whilst walking, weaving or engaging in other work, or she does so whilst spinning yarn or the like, then if the heart is present and not busied it is not Makruh (disliked). (Imam Ibn Humaam, Fath al-Qadir).
يَجُوزُ لِلْمُحْتَرِفِ كَالْحَائِكِ وَالْإِسْكَافِ قِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ إذَا لَمْ يَشْغَلْ عَمَلُهُ قَلْبَهُ عَنْهَا وَإِلَّا فَلَا. (الفتاوى الهندية)
It is permitted for a person that is working, like a cobbler or a weaver, to recite the Quran provided that his work does not distract his heart away from it (the Quran). Otherwise it is not permitted. (Fatawaa Hindiyah).
Despite this ruling one must bear in mind that it is not permitted to speak over the Holy Quran. Therefore reciting or playing a recitation of the Holy Quran in a busy shop, where people are constantly speaking is not permitted, even if the individual himself is attentive to the Holy Quran. We cannot permit a situation in which people are speaking loudly over the Quran.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (04.07.2022)
See also:
Is it permitted to touch a copy of the Holy Quran without Wudu?
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