What is the justification of the public and Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen for the non-obligation of listening attentively to the recitation of the Qur'an, taking into consideration the rule "The lesson is in the generality of the wording, not the specificity of the cause"?

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen and the majority of scholars hold that listening to a reciter outside of prayer is recommended, not obligatory. This is based on Imam Ahmad's interpretation of the verse: "And when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention," (7:204) stating that it pertains specifically to prayer.

The rule: "The lesson is in the generality of the wording, not the specificity of the cause," is sound, but it is not applied here because its application would lead to a contradiction with other texts. Therefore, the specificity of the cause is adopted to avert contradiction.