Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
About listening to the Quran. I want to listen to as much as possible, but do I have to sit and listen, or can I do work while listening? What about kids…should we play it while they play, even though they may not be paying full attention to it. I don’t want to teach him to disregard Allah’s words, however I also want to try to get through the whole Quran. Some guidance please
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Allah has commanded us that we be ‘attentive’ when listening to the Qur’an. Full attentiveness is something few have throughout, even when doing nothing else but listening.
What is minimally sought, however, is to:
a) trying one’s reasonable best to pay attention,
b) avoid mentally busying yourself completely with other things (e.g. reading a book or article while listening to the Qur’an).
[al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya (1.317), Ghunyat al-Mustamli Sharh Munyat al-Musalla (quoted in al-Mawsu`a al-Fiqhiyya), Hashiyat al-Tahtawi `ala Maraqi al-Falah]
Thus, it is permitted to recite and listen to the Qur’an if one is doing housework, taking care of the children, driving, walking, or performing other worldly activities, if the above conditions of basic attentiveness are generally fulfilled.
As for the children, hearing the Qur’an has great benefit for them, even when they are playing around.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani