Surah 7:204
Show Full Scripture Context (7:203-204) — 2 Verses
وَإِذَا لَمۡ تَأۡتِهِم بِـَٔايَةٖ قَالُواْ لَوۡلَا ٱجۡتَبَيۡتَهَاۚ قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ مِن رَّبِّيۚ هَٰذَا بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ
When you do not bring them a sign, they say, ‘If only you would choose (to do) it.’ Say: ‘I only follow what I am inspired (with) from my Lord. This is evidence from your Lord, and a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.’
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ فَٱسۡتَمِعُواْ لَهُۥ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ
When the Qur’ān is recited, listen to it and remain silent, so that you may receive compassion.
<If We will, We could send down to them from the heaven a sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility.> [26:4]
The pagans asked the Prophet, why did you not strive hard to bring us an Ayah (miracle) from Allah so that we witness it and believe in it. Allah said to him,
<Say : "I but follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.">
I do not ask such things of my Lord. I only follow what He reveals and commands me. Therefore, if Allah sends a miracle, I will accept it. Otherwise, I will not ask for it unless He allows me. Certainly, Allah is Most Wise, the All-Knower.
Allah next directs the servants to the fact that this Qur'an is the most powerful miracle, clearest evidence and most true proof and explanation, saying,
<This (the Qur'an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.>
204. 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,
<"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;
<When the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it.>
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (batch_021)