Surat Al A`raf: (204-206)

{وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ} [الأعراف: 204]

204- When the Ayahs of the Qur'an are recited, keep silent and listen to them out of reverence to the words of Allah so as to be guided and win His Mercy.

The Pious Predecessors mentioned that the Ayah was revealed about recitation during Salah. Al Baydawy said in his Tafsir: It was revealed concerning Salah because Muslims used to speak during Salah, so they were commanded to listen to the recitation of the imam. The general meaning entails the obligation of listening during recitation, and the majority of scholars preferred the application of the Ayah outside Salah.

Al Qurtuby and others mentioned that the Ayah is general and it cannot be limited except with a proof.

{وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعاً وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالآصَالِ وَلاَ تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ} [الأعراف: 205]

205- And mention Allah in a low voice sincerely and in reverence. Show humbleness before Him and recall His Greatness whether in secret and public in the beginning of the day and at the end. Perhaps the meaning is frequent mentioning of Allah to make the heart always connected with Him. And do not be of those who forget to mention Him because winning is gained through mentioning Allah and the loss is in turning away from Him.

Al Fakhr Ar-Razy said: The Ayah is a proof that hearty mentioning should be continuous as much as a person can.

And Muslims are commanded with the same ordinances directed to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ وَلَهُ يَسْجُدُونَ} [الأعراف: 206]

206- Close angels to Allah by virtue and dignity who are honored by their infallibility do not show arrogant to worship Him, but they perform Salah as they were commanded. Moreover, they mention Him, deny any partners with Him in worship, and prostrate to Him alone.