What is the ruling on a follower carrying a mushaf and following the recitation with the imam?

Question:
I have noticed that some of the followers carry the mushaf and follow the imam’s recitation, especially in Ramadan, and I specifically saw this in the Makkah Haram. What is the guidance on this? Is it permissible? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This is a phenomenon among some of the youth that has appeared at this time, and it is not prescribed; because if the one praying is looking at the mushaf, this distracts him from the khushu' (humility) in his prayer and distracts him from listening to the imam’s recitation. So it is not befitting for the one praying to take the mushaf and follow the imam, except if there is a need for it, such as if the imam is reciting from memory, and the one behind him opens it for him if the recitation becomes confused for him, and he does not have the Qur'an memorized. Then there is no harm in taking the mushaf to follow the imam in order to open it for him if the recitation becomes confused for him. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you well.