Since both have great rewards, people may think, why can’t I just listen to the Quran instead of reading it?
The argument is valid if they have the same level of rewards or the two acts are similar so we can ignore one of them. But is this accurate?
Can you listen to the Quran instead of reading it?
No, you can’t rely on listening to the Quran instead of reading it as you must also recite the Quran from time to time. Listening is easier and can be done anywhere and at any time, but it can’t be relied on to strengthen your relationship with the Quran without regular recitation every now and then.
Keep reading to know more about the rewards of both of them and why you can’t pick one over the other.
Is the Reward for Listening to the Quran the Same as Reading It?
Regardless of the importance and advantages of listening to the Quran, reading its Arabic text aloud definitely exceeds it. The prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said:
“Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a Hasana (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the Hasana is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter.”
(Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi)
This means that reading the Quran gives you Hasanah for every letter you read.
This is because when a Muslim recites the Quran aloud, more of the human senses are activated than when they merely listen to it.
Even if your knowledge of Arabic is weak, you should do your utmost to recite the Quran.
You should endeavor to obtain the essential knowledge to help you improve your Quran reciting in a systematic manner.
What about when you can’t read the Quran?
It’s understandable if you have something serious that stops you from reading. People with serious vision problems and impairment are definitely excused from reading the Quran.
Instead, they are allowed to get connected with the Quran by listening to it. This is supported by this ayah:
“Allah charges no soul but to its capacity. It [the soul] shall be paid for that which it has done [of good] and against it who has incurred [evil deliberately].”
(Surah al-Baqarah)
Other cases are acceptable too. If you have a busy day and can’t stop to read your daily portion of the Quran, you can listen to it.
Especially when you’re doing other activities. However, this shouldn’t go for so long. Once you have some time you have to open a Mushaf and read.
Listening to the Quran is a great deed itself. It’s been mentioned in the Quran that listening to the Quran blesses you from Allah SWT:
“And when the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and keep silent, so that you receive mercy.”
(Surah al-A’raf)
We could infer that intently listening to the Quran while remaining mute is a great deed.
A Muslim, on the other hand, should do both excellent things to get both rewards: recite the Quran aloud and listen to it silently and carefully.
You can listen to the Quran online for free from here. There is a large collection of your favorite reciters to choose from, so make sure to check it out.
Healing by Listening to the Quran
Aside from the spiritual and religious components, listening to the Quran has been proven to cure your body, heart, and soul.
“Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah, for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.”
(Surah Ar-Ra’d)
This ayah addresses a fairly frequent scenario that we have all encountered. When we are feeling down, we can listen to certain Quran verses and feel better, or at least more at ease. That is exactly what Allah’s power, as shown in the Quran, can do for your heart and spirit.
Many years ago, scientific findings demonstrated that balanced and rhythmical sound waves were beneficial to the body.
Balanced sound waves can help relieve symptoms of Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders, and some harmful behaviors like smoking and drug addiction. It contributes to the treatment of illnesses as well as the relief of symptoms.
This happens when you’re listening to the Quran. The rhythmical vibrations created by Quran recitation tend to rearrange brain cells, enhancing intellectual capability and capacity. You only need to listen to the Holy Quran being recited.
Can I Listen to the Quran Instead of Reading It in Ramadan?
No, you can’t listen to the Quran instead of reading it in Ramadan. Unless you have a serious excuse for why you can’t read the Quran, you can’t dismiss this action. Listening to the Quran is a great deed and can be double rewarded in Ramadan but so is reading it.
Listening to the Holy Quran does not absolve the responsibility of reading it.
You can listen to the Quran if you find yourself tired or can’t possibly open a Mushaf to recite out loud. It happens to all of us in Ramadan. But, you can’t rely on this for the whole month.
Does Listening to the Quran Count as Khatam?
Yes, listening to the Quran counts as Khatm. Khatam is the completion of the Quran. You can do it by reading or listening to the entire Holy Quran. Whenever you finish reading or listening to the entire 30 Juzs of the Quran, you’ve done a Khatam.
Today, one or more hafiz reads one juz of the Quran every day in our mosques, and Muslims who really can read the Quran follow the Huffaz, while those who cannot read the Quran just listen. On the 30th day of Ramadan, the 30th juz is read, and khatam al-Quran is completed.
That’s how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to do with Angel Jibreel. It was a reciprocal reading. For example, one of them read ten verses while the other listened; then the other read ten verses while the first listened.
In that case, not only Huffaz who read the Quran but also those who accompany them and listen to them on a regular basis are considered to have completed a khatam and are rewarded for it.
Does Reading the Quran on the Phone Count?
Religion evolves in conjunction with technology. It brought with it new means to stay connected to the sacred text. Muslims may now use their phones to stay connected to Islam while still keeping up with today’s fast-paced lifestyle.
So, does reading the Quran on the phone count? Yes, reading the Quran on the phone counts. There isn’t just one specified way of reading the Quran. So many Fatwas from Islamic scholars have legalized reading the Quran from Quran applications on any device.
The greatest method for reading or reciting the Quran is one that increases a person’s mental focus. It is preferable if they can recite from memory with more mental focus. On the other hand, it is preferable to read from the Mushaf or the smartphone if this is the way in which they better focus.
A fatwa issued lately, on the other hand, stated that when conducting daily prayers, it is banned to carry a cell phone and read out the dua (supplications) and Quranic verses since it is a distraction. It is preferable to recite what you already memorize in order to concentrate and pray properly.
