Is it permissible to recite tasbeeh to oneself while Quran is being recited? Is it permissible to smile and nod in response to a person’s Salaam if one is reciting Qur’an?

As salaamu ’alaykum,

Is it permissible to recite tasbeeh to oneself while Quran is being recited on loudspeaker at masjid or is it Fard to be quiet and listen to the Quran? Also if people say Salam to you during Quran recitation is it permissible to smile and nod at them so as not to hurt their feelings in a gathering at the masjid?

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

The answers to your questions may be found below:

1. In the aforementioned scenario, if a person was reciting tasbeeh from before and then someone starts reciting Qur’an, then it would be permissible to continue. However, if the Qur’an was being recited from before then it is not appropriate to start doing tasbeeh in such a scenario. Nonetheless, it is always better to remain silent and listen to the Qur’an as it is against the etiquettes of the Qur’an to not pay attention to it while it is being recited.

1. It is makrooh (disliked) to say salam to a person reciting Qur’an. If a person does say salam to one reciting the Qur’an, then it would not be necessary to reply to it. However, it would be appropriate to at least respond by nodding so their feelings may not be hurt.

والله اعلم

And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Mahmood Memon

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani