Question
What is the ruling on playing audio recordings of the Holy Quran in markets or while engaged in other activities?
Answer
I say, and with God's success: Playing the Quran from a phone or other device is merely a recording of it, not the real thing; it is an echo, and its rulings differ from actual recitation. It is permissible to play it while being generally occupied if one can benefit from it in that way. We must strive very hard to listen and pay attention to it in order to gain the greatest benefit from it; because it is the word of God Almighty, and all of it contains advice and wisdom. The reward for the listener and the one who pays attention to it is very great. It is permissible to play it in the market as long as the benefit from it is realized, and God knows best.