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Fatwa CenterListening to Natural Sounds When Reciting Quran
Question
I tend to listen to nature sounds when i'm reading Quran like rain sounds, river sounds ... Is that okay ?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
In principle, it is permissible to listen to the sound of rain, river, and the like. However, listening to those sounds or others while reciting the Quran hinders the heart from being fully devoted and focused on what is being recited, and consequently it misses the very purpose of reciting the Quran, which is reflecting and pondering on its meanings, and this is the spirit of the recitation.
The Prophet 
forbade raising one’s voice with the Quran if one is in the presence of another person reciting the Quran as well. He said: “Lo! Every one of you is calling upon his Lord privately. So, do not disturb one another or raise your voice when reciting (the Quran) - or when praying (in another version of the Hadeeth) - over the voice of the other.” [Abu Daawood and others] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh (authentic)]
Al-‘Ayni 
commented on the Hadeeth saying: “It is deduced from this Hadeeth that it is disliked to raise the voice while reciting to the extent that disturbs another, and that reciting it quietly and calmly is better.” [Sharh Sunan Abu Daawood]
When it is known that it is disliked to raise one’s voice with the Quran if it causes distraction to another reciter, so what would the case be with regard to other sounds?
Hence, the questioner should recite the Quran attentively while reflecting on it and avoiding whatever may distract her, for this will more likely help her benefit from the recitation. Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “If you wish to benefit from the Quran, devote your heart solely to it when you recite it or when you listen to it, and listen attentively with the presence of mind of someone who is addressed through the Quran by the One Who has spoken its words. It is the speech of Allah to you, communicated by His Messenger; Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].} [Quran 50:37]” [Al-Fawaa’id]
For more benefit on the etiquettes of pondering over the Quran, please refer to Fataawa 171669 and 91554.
Allah knows best.
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