Is it permissible in the night prayer (qiyam al-layl) for a person to hold the mushaf and read from it during the prayer, or is it not permissible?

The questioner : Is it permissible in the night prayer (qiyam al-layl) for me to hold the mushaf and read from it during the prayer, or is it not permissible?

The Shaykh : There is no harm in this; it is permissible for a person to read from the mushaf during the prayer, because it has been narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and because a person needs to do so. There is no difference in this between the obligatory prayer and the voluntary prayer. Even if the imam does not memorize and and wants to read from the mushaf in the Fajr prayer on Friday, there is nothing wrong with this. The movement that results from this is slight, and it is a movement for the benefit of the prayer. However, we sometimes see some people, especially in the tarawih prayer, taking the mushaf to follow the imam through the mushaf, and this is an error because it leads to distraction of the mind and movement in carrying the mushaf, placing it, and turning the pages, and the person aligning himself with the written letters and words without following the imam. It also causes him to miss placing his hands on his chest and spreading his hands in ruku' (bowing), because he will clasp his hands together in order to hold the mushaf. Therefore, it should not be done unless there is a need for it, such as if the imam is not a memorizer and asks one of the ma'mum (congregation) to hold the mushaf to correct him if he makes a mistake. This is permissible due to the need, but it should not extend to more than one person; one person is sufficient so that holding the mushaf does not become widespread among others without need.