In the Name of Allaah, the Extremely Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. . .

Question: Is it correct to read the Qur`aan from the Mus.haf during Taraweeh?

Shaykh al-Fawzaan: With regards to the one who is incapable of reciting from memory, then there is nothing wrong if he reads from the Mus.haf during Taraweeh prayer. This is since he will read the entire Qur`aan from its beginning to its end. So if he is not a memorizer of the Qur`aan, he may read from the Mus.haf. Some of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) used to do this.(1)

Question: What about (the ruling regarding one) reciting the Qur`aan from the Mus.haf (during prayer) Noble Shaykh?

Shaykh ibn Baaz: There is no objection in that – that which is correct is there is no objection in that. So if he needed to recite from the Mus.haf because he has not memorized the Qur`aan, then there is nothing wrong if he reads from the Mus.haf. It has been established that `Aa`ishah’s (radiyallaahu `anhaa) slave, Dhakhwaan, used to lead her in prayer (during Ramadaan), reading from the Mus.haf as mentioned by al-Bukhaaree (rahimahullaah) in a mu`allaq report.

Also, the original principle is that there is nothing wrong with this, and whoever forbids this, then he should bring forth evidence. The original principle has permitted recitation from memory and recitation from the Mus.haf. This is the original principle, and whoever says, “It is forbidden (to read) from the Mus.haf,” then he should bring forth evidence, and the original principle is that there is no evidence. So he has forbidden the original principle, and it is the permissibility of reciting the Qur`aan from the Mus.haf. The mother of the believers has implemented this, and she is from amongst the most knowledgeable of people (radiyallaahu `anhaa).(2)

The Noble Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) was asked:(3) There is a mosque whose congregation is few (in number) and there is not anyone from (the congregation) who is capable of reciting from memory. So can the one who wants to lead the congregation, read with the Mus.haf by looking at it during the prayer – the night prayer in Ramadhān, for example?

The Noble Shaykh responded by saying: Na`am (Yes). If the Imaam has not memorized anything from the Qur`aan, then this action is considered permissible for him – that he reads with the Mus.haf and there is no prohibition upon him regarding that. This is because this action is (done) for the sake of finishing the prayer, and the action (implemented) to finish the prayer does not harm. And Allaah is the granter of success.(4)

Translated by:
Umm Sufyaan Fatimah

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(1) Al-`Allaamah Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah)

(2) Al-`Allaamah Shaykh bin Baaz: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/20173

(3) Hasheeyat Majmoo` Fataawaa ash-Shaykh (rahimahullaah)

(4) Source for all fataawaa: http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=380892.