Is it permissible to lead the night prayer (Qiyam) while looking at a copy of the Quran (Mus'haf)?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Imam Ahmad permits leading the congregational prayer while looking at the Mus'haf. This permission is unrestricted regarding obligatory prayers according to his initial statement, though he later qualified this for obligatory prayer, suggesting only allowance if necessary. Ali bin Saeed, Salih, and Ibn Mansur narrated this from him. The permissibility is also supported by the action of Aisha, who allowed her freed slave to lead her in prayer while looking at a Mus'haf. Al-Zuhri stated that the best of the early Muslims used to read from Musahif. This is also supported by the rationale that what is permissible to recite openly is permissible to look at, similar to a memorizer, and it is not necessarily an extended action that disrupts prayer. The permissibility in voluntary prayer (Nawafil) is stated, especially if the Imam is not memorized. Furthermore, some scholars permit it due to necessity, such as reading during Ramadan when memorization is lacking. Al-Hasan and Muhammad permitted it in voluntary prayers. Those who permit it argue that if reading is permissible, then looking at it is analogous.
Supporting text
The consensus among some jurists is that looking at the Mus'haf invalidates the prayer if the one leading is not a memorizer, as it constitutes a long action. This view is attributed to Abu Hanifa. Narrations from Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Musayyib, Al-Hasan, Mujahid, Ibrahim, Sulayman bin Hanzala, and Al-Rabi' indicate the disapprobation of this practice. It is reported from Saeed and Al-Hasan that one should repeat what they have memorized rather than reading from the Mus'haf. Imam Ahmad restricted permissibility in obligatory prayers unless there is necessity, and Al-Qadi stated that it is disliked in obligatory prayer but permissible in voluntary prayer if the Imam is not memorized; if he is memorized, it is disliked even in voluntary prayer. The view that voluntary and obligatory prayers are equal in permissibility is attributed to Ibn Hamid.