سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 204
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥ وَأَنصِتُوا۟ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿204﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So, when the Qur’ân is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy. [i.e. during the compulsory congregational prayers when the Imâm (of a mosque) is leading the prayer (except Sûrat Al-Fâtihah), and also when he is delivering the Friday-prayer Khutbah]. (Tafsir At-Tabari).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
قُرِئَ
quri-a
is recited
ٱلْقُرْءَانُ
l-qur'ānu
the Quran
فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟
fa-is'tamiʿū
then listen
لَهُۥ
lahu
to it
وَأَنصِتُوا۟
wa-anṣitū
and pay attention
لَعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تُرْحَمُونَ
tur'ḥamūna
receive mercy
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
204. And when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent [202], so that you may be shown mercy.
[202]
Listening to the Quran is a Source of Mercy:
Just as the polytheists of Makkah had imposed restrictions on the Muslims that they could neither enter the House of Allah to perform prayers nor perform Tawaf, similarly, they had also imposed the restriction that Muslims should not recite the Quran aloud during prayer, because in this way their children and women could not remain unaffected by the Quran. Secondly, they had made an agreement among themselves that none of them would listen to the Quran. Although, due to the eloquence, rhetoric, and sweet style of the Quran, they themselves, being affected, would sometimes violate this strategy and listen to the Quran. And their third strategy to prevent the message of the Quran was that wherever the Quran was being recited, they would create a lot of noise and commotion so that the sound of the Quran would not reach anyone’s ears; in this way, they thought they could succeed in their mission. [41: 26] In this context, Allah Almighty said to abandon this approach and listen attentively to see what teachings are being given; perhaps you too may become a part of that mercy which has already been granted to the believers. In the face of the opponents’ hostile activities, this is such a heart-touching style of preaching from which a caller to the truth can learn many lessons.
Listening to the Quran in Silence:
The command given in this verse is general for both Muslims and non-Muslims, and from this it is also inferred that wherever the Quran is being recited and listened to, the mercy of Allah descends there. In this regard, a question also arises as to whether, when the Imam is reciting in audible prayers, the followers should also recite Surah Al-Fatihah in their hearts along with him or not. Although some scholars have differed on this issue, in our opinion, the hadith mentioned in footnote 1 of Surah Al-Fatihah holds the decisive ruling in this matter.
[202]
Listening to the Quran is a Source of Mercy:
Just as the polytheists of Makkah had imposed restrictions on the Muslims that they could neither enter the House of Allah to perform prayers nor perform Tawaf, similarly, they had also imposed the restriction that Muslims should not recite the Quran aloud during prayer, because in this way their children and women could not remain unaffected by the Quran. Secondly, they had made an agreement among themselves that none of them would listen to the Quran. Although, due to the eloquence, rhetoric, and sweet style of the Quran, they themselves, being affected, would sometimes violate this strategy and listen to the Quran. And their third strategy to prevent the message of the Quran was that wherever the Quran was being recited, they would create a lot of noise and commotion so that the sound of the Quran would not reach anyone’s ears; in this way, they thought they could succeed in their mission. [41: 26] In this context, Allah Almighty said to abandon this approach and listen attentively to see what teachings are being given; perhaps you too may become a part of that mercy which has already been granted to the believers. In the face of the opponents’ hostile activities, this is such a heart-touching style of preaching from which a caller to the truth can learn many lessons.
Listening to the Quran in Silence:
The command given in this verse is general for both Muslims and non-Muslims, and from this it is also inferred that wherever the Quran is being recited and listened to, the mercy of Allah descends there. In this regard, a question also arises as to whether, when the Imam is reciting in audible prayers, the followers should also recite Surah Al-Fatihah in their hearts along with him or not. Although some scholars have differed on this issue, in our opinion, the hadith mentioned in footnote 1 of Surah Al-Fatihah holds the decisive ruling in this matter.
