The Quran is a source of great blessings, which is why many Muslims make a habit of listening to it day and night, allowing some of its words to naturally stick in the mind. Over time, the heart becomes more familiar with its sound, its melody settles into the soul, and the tongue becomes more capable of reciting it smoothly and with ease.

So what if we are asleep? Is it Haram to Listen to the Quran while Sleeping? Let’s discuss this question and find out the ruling.

Is it Haram to Listen to the Quran while Sleeping?

It is permissible to listen to the Quran aloud, whether you are attentive or not, except if the environment around you is noisy or distracting. Listening to the Quran can help you maintain focus on your recitation and stay connected to the words of Allah.

If you fall asleep and the Quran is still being recited through your mobile phone or any other device, there is no harm in that, as long as the place and situation show respect to the words of Allah.

Quran recitation while people are chatting, laughing, or engaging in casual conversation around it is not recommended, because this shows a kind of disrespect to the Quran.

It is better to listen attentively to the Quran when it is being recited, because Allah Almighty said in Surah Al Aaraf:

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

Translation:

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

Some people may feel uneasy about leaving the Qur’an playing while they sleep because of the previous verse. However, the correct view -and Allah knows best- is that this verse was revealed regarding listening to the Prophet’s recitation or the imam’s recitation in prayer.

Benefits of listening to the Quran before and while sleeping:

No evidence in the Qur’an or Sunnah prohibits listening to the Quran while sleeping. However, the Prophet ﷺ did not do it, nor is it reported that he encouraged it directly. What is reported is saying the nightly adhkār and reciting specific surahs before sleep.

Yet, scholars considered it favorable to listen to the Quran during sleep for several beneficial reasons.

1. The Quran brings peace and comfort to the hearts:

We feel peaceful sleep since the Quran’s recitation can create a calming and soothing atmosphere. There is no doubt that the Quran is one of the best forms of Al Zikr (remembrance), and remembering Allah brings peace to the heart and instills tranquility, as Allah mentions in Surah Ar-Ra’d.

﴿ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ ﴾

Translation:
“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah, Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”

2. Spreading blessings in the home:

The Quran brings blessings into your home and life, even while you are asleep. You will realize that the Quran is all goodness. Allah mentions in Surah Saad:

﴿ كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴾

Translation:

“A blessed Book which We have revealed to you, that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.”

3. Our prophet encouraged Quranic recitation in houses:

The Prophet, peace be upon him, likened a house in which the Quran is not recited to a grave. When the Quran is recited day and night, you will surely notice it one day and join in reading along. See the following Hadith:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَرَّادٍ الأَشْعَرِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَثَلُ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَالْبَيْتِ الَّذِي لاَ يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مَثَلُ الْحَىِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ ‏”‏ ‏.

Translation: 

Abu Musa reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

The house in which remembrance of Allah is made, and the house in which Allah is not remembered, are like the living and the dead.

Read Also: Can I Listen to The Quran Instead of Reading It?

4. It drives away the devils and nightmares due to them:

We should strive to stay away from Shaytan, for he is our greatest enemy. When we read the Quran, this helps reduce stress and anxiety. Why not benefit from the promise of Allah and His Messenger in the following hadith?

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَجْعَلُوا بِيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ من الْبَيْت الَّذِي يقْرَأ فِيهِ سُورَة الْبَقَرَة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Translation:

Abū Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not make your houses graveyards*. The devil flies from the house in which sūra al-Baqara is recited.”

*A house in which there is no prayer or recitation of the Qur’ān is here intended. The dead cannot engage in these practices, so such a house is likened to a graveyard.

Muslim transmitted it.

You can put a Quran schedule and planner that contains Surah al Baqarah at least every three days to avoid Shaytan.

5.  Making Sunnah Bedtime Surahs Easier to recite for non-Hofaz:

Our Prophet guided us to recite certain surahs, such as Surah Al-Mulk, Surah Al-Sajda, and Surah Al-Israa. It makes it easier for those who haven’t memorised them to listen to the surahs that the Sunnah teaches us to recite, without worrying that they should stop before the recorder or whatever they are using.

Listening is easier than reciting at first, since you can emulate. You can learn to recite and do the sunnah without the need for a recorder through our Learn Quran reading course.

6. Facilitate memorization:

Scientifically, it has been proven that the brain continues to process whatever it hears right before sleep. This may be one of the wisdoms behind the Prophet, peace be upon him, reciting the Quran before going to bed.
Repeated listening helps the mind and heart become familiar with the verses, supporting memorization. When they repeat after the recorder or whatever they’re using, and day by day, they may eventually memorize them, applying the rules of reading and reciting the Quran.

7. This action indicates love for the Quran: 

A person who cannot sleep without the Quran and wakes up to its recitation has the verses engraved in their mind. They learn them, may even memorize them through repetition, and reflect upon them as a result of this repetition. 

This signifies love and attachment to the Quran and leads to earning the benefits of reading the Quran and attaining success in this world and the Hereafter.

8. Spiritual reflection 

As we mentioned scientifically, the brain analyzes the last words it hears before sleeping, so how beautiful it is when what it analyzes are the verses of the Quran!
Hearing the Quran repeatedly every day before sleep may inspire subconscious reflection and mindfulness about its meanings. If you learned the tafseer before. Since you know the meaning and repeat it, especially before sleep.

You can learn the Tafseer through our online Quran Tafseer Course that uncovers the meaning of each Ayah for you, so that you can reflect on the meaning. 

Read Also: Does Reading The Quran On The Phone Count?

Memorize the Quran with Quranica and recite it yourself before sleeping  

Enroll in our online Quran memorization and Hifz course with native Arab teachers. This online program helps you begin your Hifz journey and enables you to recite the Qur’an anytime, anywhere. And we’ve provided this course to make that dream easy and accessible for you.

We know how beautiful it is to learn the Qur’an and memorise it by heart, so you can recite it from your chest and say the surahs mentioned in the bedtime Azkhar without needing any recording or internet. And if you fall asleep while reciting them yourself, how beautiful that is.

 Our courses include:

• Arabic-related courses: whether you are a beginner or mid-level. You can choose your level and start from it. 
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• Tajweed Courses: Well-designed courses help Muslims to reach the right recitation of the Quran correctly. 
• Islamic Studies Courses: These courses help you know more about Islam and Tafsir. This is important since you need to understand the Quran and reflect on your daily life.

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Conclusion:

Muslims love the Quran and long for its words. That is why they listen to it at all times, in the mornings, in the evenings, and even before sleep. As a result, the Quran may be recited throughout the night while people are asleep, and it is perfectly fine; in fact, it may even be recommended (mustahabb).

Although I think that nothing is better than applying the Sunnah. Listening to the Quran while sleeping has several benefits, such as bringing peace, blessings, protection from Shaytan, and helping with memorization, reflection, and attachment to Allah’s Book. It encourages a home filled with remembrance, leading to spiritual comfort and success in this life and the next.

So, if the Quran is playing while everyone is listening, silent, or even asleep, there is no harm in that at all. The key is to ensure that the Quran is always treated with honor and that its recitation is not mixed with disrespectful noise.