Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on leading the prayer (imāmah) while reciting from the Muṣḥaf (copy of the Qur’an)?
If a person cannot recite the Qur’an from memory, then it is permissible for him to recite from the Muṣḥaf (Qur’an) while leading the prayer.
The ḥadīth scholars (muḥaddithīn) considered this practice permissible.
يُؤُمُّهَا عَبْدُهَا ذَكْوَانُ مِنَ الْمُصْحَفِ.
“Her servant Dhakwān used to lead her in prayer while reciting from the Muṣḥaf (Qur’an).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1/96 – muʿallaq; Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/373; Kitāb al-Maṣāḥif by Ibn Abī Dāwūd: 797; al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, 2/253 – chain ṣaḥīḥ)
This clearly shows that reading from the Muṣḥaf during prayer was practiced and approved by the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.
كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ لَا يَرَى بَأْسًا أَنْ يُؤُمَّ الرَّجُلُ الْقَوْمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمُصْحَفِ.
“Imām Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn (a great Tābiʿī) saw no harm in a man leading the people in prayer while reading from the Muṣḥaf.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/337 – chain ṣaḥīḥ)
فِي الرَّجُلِ يُؤُمُّ فِي رَمَضَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمُصْحَفِ، رُخِّصَ فِيهِ.
“Regarding a person who leads (the people) in Ramadan while reciting from the Muṣḥaf — Ḥakam ibn ʿUtaybah رحمه الله granted permission for it.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/337 – chain ṣaḥīḥ)
Conclusion:
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on leading the prayer (imāmah) while reciting from the Muṣḥaf (copy of the Qur’an)?
✿ Answer:
If a person cannot recite the Qur’an from memory, then it is permissible for him to recite from the Muṣḥaf (Qur’an) while leading the prayer.
The ḥadīth scholars (muḥaddithīn) considered this practice permissible.
✿ Evidence from the Sunnah and Practice of the Salaf:
① Ḥadīth of Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
يُؤُمُّهَا عَبْدُهَا ذَكْوَانُ مِنَ الْمُصْحَفِ.
“Her servant Dhakwān used to lead her in prayer while reciting from the Muṣḥaf (Qur’an).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1/96 – muʿallaq; Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/373; Kitāb al-Maṣāḥif by Ibn Abī Dāwūd: 797; al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, 2/253 – chain ṣaḥīḥ)
This clearly shows that reading from the Muṣḥaf during prayer was practiced and approved by the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.
② Statement of Imām Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī رحمه الله:
كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ لَا يَرَى بَأْسًا أَنْ يُؤُمَّ الرَّجُلُ الْقَوْمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمُصْحَفِ.
“Imām Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn (a great Tābiʿī) saw no harm in a man leading the people in prayer while reading from the Muṣḥaf.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/337 – chain ṣaḥīḥ)
③ Report from Imām Shuʿbah رحمه الله:
فِي الرَّجُلِ يُؤُمُّ فِي رَمَضَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمُصْحَفِ، رُخِّصَ فِيهِ.
“Regarding a person who leads (the people) in Ramadan while reciting from the Muṣḥaf — Ḥakam ibn ʿUtaybah رحمه الله granted permission for it.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, 2/337 – chain ṣaḥīḥ)
Conclusion:- If one cannot recite Qur’an from memory, it is permissible to read directly from the Muṣḥaf during prayer, including while leading others.
- This practice is supported by authentic reports from the Companions and early scholars.
- However, the person should avoid unnecessary movement while holding the Muṣḥaf, and maintain khushūʿ (humility) during prayer.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
