Would I still get the same blessing if I listen to someone recite the Quran rather than recite it myself?

QUESTION:
Hello! I’m a convert to Islam so I’m not familiar with the Arabic language. I cannot read the Quran but I’ve been able to memorize a few verses. I heard that reciting Al-Baqarah every day will protect you from shaytan, evil eye, and witchcraft and bring barakah into a person’s life. My question is since I do not know how to read the Quran, would I still get the same blessing and protection if I listen to someone recite it? Thank you.

ANSWER:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We pray that Allah keeps you steadfast in Islam. Ameen.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said:
لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ
Translation: Do not make your homes into graveyards; indeed, the Shaytan flees the home in which surat l-Baqarah is recited.’ [1]

Thus, the recitation of this surah is a means of protection and safety of the home. We should aim to recite the entire surah daily.

Nevertheless, if this is difficult then one may recite at least the last two verses of this surah. Abu Mas`ud l-Badari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
من قرأ بالآيتين من آخر سورة البقرة في ليلة كفتاه ‏‏
Translation: Whoeveer recites the recitation of the last two verses of Surat l-Baqarah at night, this will suffice for him [2] [from all harm or at least the evil of the devil].’ [3]

Alternatively a person should read Ayat l-Kursi, a person will be protected from the evils of Shaytaan.

It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him),
فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ الْبَارِحَةَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يُعَلِّمُنِي كَلِمَاتٍ، يَنْفَعُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَا هِيَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ قَالَ لِي إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا حَتَّى تَخْتِمَ ‏{‏اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ‏}‏ وَقَالَ لِي لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلاَ يَقْرَبَكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ، وَكَانُوا أَحْرَصَ شَىْءٍ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكَ وَهُوَ كَذُوبٌ، تَعْلَمُ مَنْ تُخَاطِبُ مُنْذُ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ ‏”‏‏’
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) asked, “What did your prisoner do yesterday?” I replied, “He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will benefit me, so I let him go.” Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) asked, “What are they?” I replied, “He said to me, ‘Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi from the beginning to the end…If you do, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no shaytan will come near you until the morning. The companions were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He really spoke the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Huraira?” Abu Huraira said, “No.” He said, “It was shaytan’. [4]

The wording of Ayat l-Kursi is as follows:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

As for your query, there is indeed great merit and reward in listening attentively and contemplating the Quran also. Allah Ta`ala states:
وإذا قرئ القرآن فاستمعوا له وأنصتوا لعلكم ترحمون
Translation: When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, and you will be blessed.

To listen to the Quran too is, thus, a means of receiving divine blessings. [5]

Similarly, it was the practice of the Messenger (peace be upon him) himself and the Sahabah, to not only recite the Quran but also listen to it. [6]

However, it must be noted that a person should not make this method of listening to the only possible avenue of gaining reward and protection. Everyone should make an attempt to learn and read the Quran. There is a specific reward mentioned for the recitation of each letter of the Quran.

Abdullah Ibn Masud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him) said:
مَن قرأ حرفًا من كتاب الله فله به حسنة، والحسنة بعشر أمثالها، لا أقول: ألف لام ميم حرف، ألفٌ حرفٌ، ولامٌ حرفٌ، وميمٌ حرفٌ
Translation: Whoever recites a letter from the Quran, for him is a good deed; and every good deed is ten-fold. I do not say `Alif Laam Meem` is one letter but `Alif` is one letter, `Laam` is one letter and `Meem` is one letter.’ [7]

And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best.
Mudathir Karim

Concurred by:
Hanif Patel | Mubasshir Ahmed | Zayd Rasheed

Posted in Qur'an & Hadeeth on 30th Apr 2023 by Our Imam | 171 Views