along a road and hear such things; he incurs no sin thereby, by the agreement of the Muslims. But if he sits and deliberately listens without rejecting it in his heart, with his tongue, or with his hand, he is sinful, by the agreement of the Muslims. As Allah Most High says:

“When you see those who engage in mockery of Our revelations, turn away from them until they turn to another subject. And if Satan makes you forget, then once you remember, do not sit with the wrongdoing people. Those who fear Allah are in no way accountable for them, but should remind them, so that they may fear Him.”

Allah Most High also says:

“He has already revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah’s revelations being denied and mocked, you must not sit with them until they turn to another subject; otherwise, you would be like them.”

Thus, He places the person who sits and listens without rejecting it on the same footing as the perpetrator. Hence the saying: “The listener is a partner in the backbiter’s sin.” A report states:

“Whoever witnesses a sin and detests it is like one who was absent from it, and whoever is absent from it but approves of it is like one who witnessed it.”

If someone witnesses it because of a need or under compulsion, he must reject it in his heart, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”

If a man were passing by and heard the Quran without deliberately listening to it, he would not be rewarded for that. Rather, he is rewarded for intentional listening, as Allah Most High says:

“When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and remain silent, so that you may receive mercy.”

And He said to Moses:

“So listen to what is revealed.”