Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 204

Mufti Taqi Usmani

When the Qur’ān is recited, listen to it and be silent, so that you may be blessed.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, so you may be shown mercy.

Ruwwad Translation Center

When the Qur’an is recited, listen to it attentively and maintain silence, so that you may receive mercy.

A. J. Arberry

And when the Koran is recited, give you ear to it and be silent; haply so you will find mercy.

Abdul Haleem

so pay attention and listen quietly when the Quran is recited, so that you may be given mercy.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

So when the Qur'an is recited, listen thereto and keep silence, haply ye may be shewn mercy.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

When the Qur'an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace; that ye may receive Mercy.

Abul Ala Maududi

So when the Qur'an is recited, listen carefully to it, and keep silent so that you may, be shown mercy.'

Ahmed Ali

When the Qur'an is recited listen to it in silence. You may perhaps be blessed.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it attentively and keep silent, so that you receive mercy.

Ali Quli Qarai

When the Quran is recited, listen to it and be silent, maybe you will receive [Allah’s] mercy.

Ali Ünal

And so, when the Qur’an is recited, give ear to it and listen in silence so that you may be shown mercy.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Hence, when the Qur´ân is recited, give ear to it and keep silent (to remain attentive) so that you may be shown mercy.

English Literal

And if the Koran is read, so hear/listen to it and listen quietly, maybe/perhaps We have mercy upon you.

Faridul Haque

And when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it attentively and keep silent, so that you receive mercy.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when the Quran is read, then listen thereto with attention, and keep silence, that per chance (or possibly) you may obtain mercy.

Hilali & Khan

So, when the Quran is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy. [i.e. during the compulsory congregational prayers when the Imam (of a mosque) is leading the prayer (except Surat Al-Fatiha), and also when he is delivering the Friday-prayer Khutbah]. [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 9, Pages 162-4]

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when thou bringest them not a sign, they say: Why dost thou not demand it? Say: I follow only that which is revealed to me from my Lord. These are clear proofs from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and remain silent, that mercy may be shown to you.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when the Qur'an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy.

Muhammad Sarwar

Whenever the Quran is recited (to you), listen to it quietly so that you may receive mercy.

Qaribullah & Darwish

When the Koran is recited, listen to it in silence in order that Allah has mercy upon you.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So, when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.

Wahiduddin Khan

When the Quran is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace, so that you may receive mercy.

Talal Itani

When the Quran is recited, listen to it, and pay attention, so that you may experience mercy.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when the Qur'n is recited, listen to it and pay heed, [refraining] from speech, so that you might find mercy; this was revealed regarding [the requirement of] refraining from speech during the [mosque] sermon, which here has been expressed by [the recital of] `the Qur'n', because it [the sermon] comprises it; others say that it was revealed regarding the [requirement of silence and attention during the] recitation of the Qur'n in general.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Order to listen to the Qur'an

Allah says;
وَإِذَا قُرِىءَ الْقُرْانُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

So, when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.

After Allah mentioned that this Qur'an is a clear evidence, guidance and mercy for mankind, He commanded that one listen to the Qur'an when it is recited, in respect and honor of the Qur'an.

This is to the contrary of the practice of the pagans of Quraysh, who said,

لَا تَسْمَعُواْ لِهَـذَا الْقُرْءَانِ وَالْغَوْاْ فِيهِ

"Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation)." (41;26)

Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Mas`ud said;

"We would give Salams to each other during Salah. So the Ayah of Qur'an was revealed;
وَإِذَا قُرِىءَ الْقُرْانُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ

When the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it