Is it permissible to recite from the Qur'an in the obligatory prayer, and what is the evidence for that?

The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The questioner : How are you, Shaykh?

The Shaykh : I am well, and all praise is for Allah?

The questioner : We heard from your eminence that it is permissible for the imam in the obligatory prayer to recite from the mushaf. So if I say this to the people, they ask: What is the evidence? So what is the evidence, Shaykh? And what can I say to them?

The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Is it not the case that Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says:

The questioner : Yes, yes.

The Shaykh : Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ? Did not the Messenger tell the man to recite whatever is easy for you of the Qur'an? Did he say to recite it from other than the mushaf? So it is permissible to recite from the mushaf or from memory, but if a person knows the recitation by heart, he does not recite from the mushaf, because reciting from the mushaf entails movements that are unnecessary in that case.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : As for when one needs it, such as if the imam does not memorize Surat al-Muzzammil or Surat al-Insan, and he wants to recite them in the Fajr prayer on Friday, because reciting these two surahs in the Fajr prayer on Friday is a recommended practice (sunnah), and he says, "I have not memorized them," is it permissible for him to recite them from the mushaf? We say: Yes, it is permissible for you, and there is no blame on you.