7:204 Al-A'raaf (The Heights)

وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له أيها الناس وأنصتوا، لتعقلوه رجاء أن يرحمكم الله به.

هذا الأمر عام في كل من سمع كتاب اللّه يتلى، فإنه مأمور بالاستماع له والإنصات، والفرق بين الاستماع والإنصات، أن الإنصات في الظاهر بترك التحدث أو الاشتغال بما يشغل عن استماعه. وأما الاستماع له، فهو أن يلقي سمعه، ويحضر قلبه ويتدبر ما يستمع، فإن من لازم على هذين الأمرين حين يتلى كتاب اللّه، فإنه ينال خيرا كثيرا وعلما غزيرا، وإيمانا مستمرا متجددا، وهدى متزايدا، وبصيرة في دينه، ولهذا رتب اللّه حصول الرحمة عليهما، فدل ذلك على أن من تُلِيَ عليه الكتاب، فلم يستمع له وينصت، أنه محروم الحظ من الرحمة، قد فاته خير كثير. ومن أوكد ما يؤمر به مستمع القرآن، أن يستمع له وينصت في الصلاة الجهرية إذا قرأ إمامه، فإنه مأمور بالإنصات، حتى إن أكثر العلماء يقولون: إن اشتغاله بالإنصات، أولى من قراءته الفاتحة، وغيرها.

لما ذكر تعالى أن القرآن بصائر للناس وهدى ورحمة أمر تعالى بالإنصات عند تلاوته إعظاما له واحتراما لا كما كان يتعمده كفار قريش المشركون في قولهم "لا تسمعوا لهذا القرآن والغوا فيه" الآية ولكن يتأكد ذلك في الصلاة المكتوبة إذا جهر الإمام بالقراءة كما رواه مسلم في صحيحه من حديث أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إنما جعل الإمام ليؤتم به فإذا كبر فكبروا وإذا قرأ فأنصتوا" وكذا رواه أهل السنن من حديث أبي هريرة أيضا وصححه مسلم بن الحجاج أيضا ولم يخرجه في كتابه وقال إبراهيم بن مسلم الهجري عن أبي عياض عن أبي هريرة قال: كانوا يتكلمون في الصلاة فلما نزلت هذه الآية "فإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له" والآية الأخرى أمروا بالإنصات قال ابن جرير: حدثنا أبو كريب حدثنا أبو بكر بن عياش عن عاصم عن المسيب بن رافع قال ابن مسعود: كنا يسلم بعضنا على بعض في الصلاة فجاء القرآن "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا لعلكم ترحمون" وقال أيضا حدثنا أبو كريب حدثنا المحاربي عن داود بن أبي هند عن بشير بن جابر قال: صلى ابن مسعود فسمع ناسا يقرؤن مع الإمام فلما أنصرف قال: أما آن لكم أن تفهموا أما آن لكم أن تعقلوا "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" كما أمركم الله قال وحدثني أبو السائب حدثنا حفص عن أشعث عن الزهري قال: نزلت هذه الآية في فتى من الأنصار كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كلما قرأ شيئا قرأه فنزلت "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" وقد روى الإمام أحمد وأهل السنن من حديث الزهري عن أبي أكتمة الليثي عن أبي هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم انصرف من صلاة جهر فيها بالقراءة فقال "أهل قرأ أحد منكم معي آنفا؟" قال رجل نعم يا رسول الله قال "إني أقول ما لي أنازع القرآن" قال فانتهى الناس عن القراءة مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فيما جهر فيه بالقراءة من الصلاة حين سمعوا ذلك من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال الترمذي هذا حديث حسن وصححه أبو حاتم الرازي وقال عبدالله بن المبارك عن يونس عن الزهري قال: لا يقرأ من وراء الإمام فيما يجهر به الإمام تكفيهم قراءة الإمام وإن لم يسمعهم صوته ولكنهم يقرؤن فيما لا يجهر به سرا في أنفسهم ولا يصلح لأحد خلفه أن يقرأ معه فيما يجهر به سرا ولا علانية فإن الله تعالى قال "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا وأنصتوا له لعلكم ترحمون" قلت: هذا مذهب طائفة من العلماء أن المأموم لا يجب عليه في الصلاة الجهرية قراءة فيما جهر فيه الإمام لا الفاتحة ولا غيرها وهو أحد قولي الشافعية وهو القديم كمذهب مالك ورواية عن أحمد بن حنبل لما ذكرناه من الأدلة المتقدمة وقال في الجديد يقرأ الفاتحة فقط في سكتات الإمام وهو قول طائفة من الصحابة والتابعين فمن بعدهم وقال أبو حنيفة وأحمد بن حنبل: لا يجب على المأموم قراءة أصلا في السرية ولا الجهرية بما ورد في الحديث "من كان له إمام فقراءته قراءة له" وهذا الحديث رواه الإمام أحمد في مسنده عن جابر مرفوعا وهو في موطأ مالك عن وهب بن كيسان عن جابر موقوفا وهذا أصح وهذه المسألة مبسوطة في غير هذا الموضع وقد أفرد لها الإمام أبو عبدالله البخاري مصنفا على حدة واختار وجوب القراءة خلف الإمام في السرية والجهرية أيضا والله أعلم وقال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس في الآية قوله "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" يعني في الصلاة المفروضة وكذا روي عن عبدالله بن المغفل. وقال ابن جرير: حدثنا حميد بن مسعدة حدثنا بشر بن المفضل حدثنا الجراري عن طلحة بن عبيد الله بن كريز قال: رأيت عبيد بن عمير وعطاء بن أبي رباح يتحدثان والقاص يقص فقلت ألا تستمعان إلى الذكر وتستوجبان الموعود؟ قال فنظرا إلي ثم أقبلا على حديثهما قال فأعدت فنظرا إلي وأقبلا على حديثهما قال فأعدت الثالثة قال فنظرا إلي فقالا: إنما ذلك في الصلاة "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" وكذا قال سفيان الثوري عن أبي هاشم إسماعيل بن كثير عن مجاهد في قوله "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" قال في الصلاة. وكذا رواه غير واحد عن مجاهد وقال عبدالرزاق عن الثوري عن ليث عن مجاهد قال: لا بأس إذا قرأ الرجل في غير الصلاة أن يتكلم وكذا قال سعيد بن جبير والضحاك وإبراهيم النخعي وقتادة والشعبي والسدي وعبدالرحمن بن زيد بن أسلم أن المراد بذلك في الصلاة وقال شعبة عن منصور سمعت إبراهيم بن أبي حمزة يحدث أنه سمع مجاهدا يقول في هذه الآية "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" قال في الصلاة والخطبة يوم الجمعة وكذا روى ابن جريج عن عطاء مثله وقال هشيم عن الربيع بن صبيح عن الحسن قال في الصلاة وعند الذكر وقال ابن المبارك عن بقية سمعت ثابت بن عجلان يقول: سمعت سعيد بن جبير يقول في قوله "وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا" قال الإنصات يوم ألأضحى ويوم الفطر ويوم الجمعة وفيما يجهر به الإمام من الصلاة وهذا اختيار ابن جرير أن المراد من ذلك الإنصات في الصلاة وفي الخطبة كما جاء في الأحاديث من الأمر بالإنصات خلف الإمام وحال الخطبة وقال عبدالرزاق عن الثوري عن ليث عن مجاهد أنه كره إذا مر الإمام بآية خوف أو بآية رحمة أن يقول أحد من خلفه شيئا قال السكوت وقال مبارك بن فضالة عن الحسن إذا جلست إلى القرآن فأنصت له. وقال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا أبو سعيد مولى بني هاشم حدثنا عباد بن ميسرة عن الحسن عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال "من استمع إلى آية من كتاب الله كتبت له حسنة مضاعفة ومن تلاها كانت له نورا يوم القيامة" تفرد به الإمام أحمد رحمه الله تعالى.

And when the Qur’ān is recited listen to it and pay heed refraining from speech so that you might find mercy this was revealed regarding the requirement of refraining from speech during the mosque sermon which here has been expressed by the recital of ‘the Qur’ān’ because it the sermon comprises it; others say that it was revealed regarding the requirement of silence and attention during the recitation of the Qur’ān in general.

In the second verse (204), we have been told that the Holy Qur'an has come as mercy for the believers. But, in order to benefit from this mercy, there are some conditions and rules of conduct. These have been delineated in the form of a general address as: وَإِذَا قُرِ‌ئَ الْقُرْ‌آنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا (And when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it and be silent).

There are different reports about the background of these verses and about whether this injunction has appeared about the recitation of the Qur'an in Salah, or in Khutbah, or relates to the recitation of the Qur'an in an absolute sense, be it in Salah or Khutbah or in some other condition. But, according to the majority of commentators, the correct position is that the way the words of the verse are general, so the rule laid down therein too is generally applicable to all conditions - except some particular occasions.

Therefore, the followers of Hanafi School have taken this verse to prove that the persons offering their prayer behind an Imam (i.e. the muqtadis) should not recite. Even Muslim jurists who have directed the muqtadis to recite Alfatihah behind the Imam, they too, having kept this verse in view have suggested that a muqtadi should recite only in an interval when the Imam is silent. However, this is not the appropriate occasion to take up this debate. Those interested may refer to standard works, brief or detailed, written by scholars on the issue.

The main subject of the verse is not but that the people for whom the Qur'an has been declared to be mercy should realize the condition that they have to recognize the etiquette and respect aligned with the Qur'an and observe it literally in practice. Then, the cardinal etiquette of the Qur'an is that listeners should lend their ears to it when recited and remain silent.

The sense of lending ears to it not only includes listening to it but also obeying it and making the effort of acting in accordance with its injunctions. (Maharl and Qurtubi) Then, by saying: لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْ‌حَمُونَ (so that you may be blessed) at the end of the verse, a clear hint is given that the mercy of Qur'an depends on the observance of rules of etiquette mentioned above.

Some important rules relating to listening and remaining silent when Qur'an is being recited

In contrast with what has been said above, it is obvious that whoever flouts these rules and shows disrespect to the Qur'an will deserve Divine wrath, not mercy.

As for listening to the recitation of the Qur'an in the Salah and remaining silent therein, Muslims generally know about it - though, they do fall short in practice. Some of them would not even be aware of the Surah recited by the Imam. For such people, it is imperative that they should realize the greatness of the Qur'an, and listen to it attentively. This Islamic legal norm applies to the Khutbah of Jumu'ah etc. In addition to this verse, the Holy Prophet ﷺ has particularly said about the Khutbah:

اَذا خرجَ الاِمَام فَلَا صلٰوۃ وَ لَا کَلَام

When the Imam comes out (for Khutbah), then, there is no Surah and no conversation.

And it also appears in a Hadith that no one should say anything to anyone during Khutbah, not even a verbal advice is allowed to be given to another person to keep silence (if it has to be done, making a sign by hand should be enough). The objective is to emphasize that, during the Khutbah, no conversation of any kind, tasbih, durud or Salah or acts of similar nature are permissible.

Muslim jurists have said that the rule which applies to the Khutbah of Jumu'ah applies to the Khutbah of the two ` Eid prayers and that of Nikah (marriage) for, at that time, listening to it and remaining silent is obligatory (wajib).

However, in case someone is reciting on his own under usual conditions other than Salah and Khutbah, the question arises: Will others be required to be silent and listen to it? Whether or not would it be obligatory (wajib) on them? The positions taken by Muslim jurists in this matter differ. Some consider listening and remaining silent in this condition too as wajib and doing against it a sin. It is for this reason that they have ruled that it is not permissible for anyone to recite the Qur'an in a loud voice at places where people are busy doing their chores or are resting. They have also said that anyone who recites the Qur'an in a loud voice in such surroundings shall be a sinner. This is as it appears in Khulasatu 1-Fatawa and other juristic works.

But, some other jurists have distinguished different situations from one another by saying that listening attentively is wajib only on occasions where the Qur'an is being recited for the express purpose of being listened to - such as, in Salah and Khutbah etc. And should it be that someone is reciting on his own, or some people are doing their own recitation at one place, then, it is not wajib to listen and be silent. The reason is that it stands proved on the authority of sound Ahadith that the Holy Prophet ﷺ used to recite the Qur'an in his nightly prayers in a raised voice. At that time, his blessed wives would be sleeping. At times, his voice could also be heard from outside his roomette.

There is a Hadith in al-Bukhari and Muslim. It says that the Holy Prophet ﷺ made a stop on his journey and when morning came he said, 'I recognized my Ash'arite companions by the voices of their recitation of Qur'an during the darkness of the night and was able to pinpoint the direction and location of their tents - though, I had no idea during the day as to where they stay.

This event shows that the Holy Prophet ﷺ never asked these Asharite companions as to why they were reciting the Qur'an in a loud voice, nor did he tell those sleeping that they all had to get up and listen to the Qur'an when it was being recited.

As based on narratives such as these, jurists have given some leeway in the case of recitation outside Salah. But, they all consider it better and preferable to listen and be silent when the sound of the recitation of the Qur'an comes from somewhere - even if it is outside the Salah. For this reason, in places where people are resting or working, it is not appropriate to recite the Qur'an in a loud voice.

This exposes the error of people who turn their radios to full volume at the time some program of recitation from the Qur'an comes on the air, particularly at places and gatherings where the crowd would not listen to it attentively. Similarly, the practice of relaying the recitation of the Qur'an from the public address systems of mosques late at night, in a manner that the sound goes out and disturbs the sleep of the sleeping or the work of the working, is not correct.

` Allamah ibn al-Humam has written that, at the time the Imam in Salah, or the Khatib in Khutbah, is reciting something about the Jannah or Jahannam, then, at that time, it is not permissible even to pray for Jannah or seek refuge from Jahannam. The reason is that, according to this verse, the promise of mercy from Allah Ta` ala is for the person who remains silent when the Qur'an is being recited - and whoever does not remain silent, to him the promise does not apply.

Yes, if one supplicates voicelessly after the recitation of such verses during his na f Z prayers, it is an act proved by Sunnah, and is worthy of reward as well. (Mazhari)

And when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it and give ear. Perhaps you will be shown mercy. Listening [samāʿ] is the reality of giving ear to the Qur'an. Listening gives more life to a man's days than the spirit gives to the body. Listening is a spring that bubbles up from the midst of the heart, nurtured by the well of truthfulness. Truthfulness is to listening as the sun's body is to its rays. As long as the darknesses of mortal nature do not lift away from the heart, the reality of lis- tening's sun will not be permitted to disclose itself in the desert of a man's breast. Know that listening is of two sorts: The listening of the common people is one thing, the listening of the elect something else. The common people's share in listening is sound and its melodies, and the elect's share in listening is a subtlety in the midst of the sound and its meanings and allusions. The common people listen with the ear of the head, the organ of discernment, and the movement of the natures so as to be freed of sorrow and at ease from their preoccupations. The elect listen with a dead soul, a thirsty heart, and a burnt breath. They reap the fruit of the breeze of intimacy, endless reminder, and everlasting happiness. It is said that the reality of listening is remembering the eternal call that came forth on the Day of the Compact from the Court of All-Compellingness and the Side of Unity: " Am I not your Lord? " [7:172]. It became connected to the hearing of the servants and its tasting reached their spirits. This is a call whose repository is in that world and whose lodging place [11:6] is in the spirit. What bears witness is the mark, what it expresses is the title-page. What is supposition in reports is face-to-face vision in finding. The servant's seven bodily members listen to the Friend- the call of the Friend does not belong to the now, for it is everlasting.