Bismillahi Al-Rahmani Al-Rahim
Reading From The Mushaf During Prayer
Q
Is it permissible in the Hanbali madhhab for one to recite from an
open mushaf while in Salah? If so, which type of salah i.e. Fardh,
Wajib, Wajib, Nafl, alone, congregation, etc.? If it is permissible,
what are the conditions allowing for it?
A
I know I have seed this written in a book somewhere but I could not
find the reference. But I remember asking my sheikh this and I have written
on the margin of my book: "It is not makruh to pray reading from the
mushaf, but it is better to put it on something in front of the person
praying." The sheikh did not say that this is permissible for any
particular types of prayer.
As for conditions for doing so without breaking the prayer: probably the
most important thing is that the motions not be so much that it is no
longer obvious that the person is actually praying. Also, the mushaf should
be handled with proper respect and it should not be placed directly on the
ground.
And Allah knows best.
wa al-salamu `alaykum
--musa