Can I Read from the Quran While Praying? 

Key Takeaways

Reading from the Mushaf during Salah is permitted according to Shafi’i and Hanbali scholars for both obligatory and voluntary prayers.

Hanafi scholars consider reading from the Mushaf during Salah to invalidate the prayer due to excessive physical action involved.

Maliki scholars distinguish between obligatory and voluntary prayers, allowing Mushaf use in Nafl prayers started from the beginning with the Mushaf.

The Sunnah-established default is reciting from memory; reading from the Mushaf is a dispensation when memorization is insufficient.

Many Muslims — especially those still building their Quran memorization — face a genuine uncertainty before entering Salah: is it permissible to hold the Mushaf and read from it during prayer? 

This question comes up constantly among new Muslims, adult learners, and those performing Qiyam al-Layl with longer Surahs they haven’t yet memorized.

Can I Read from the Quran While Praying?

Yes, reading from the Quran during prayer is permitted according to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of Islamic jurisprudence, for both obligatory (Fard) and voluntary (Nafl) prayers. 

This position is supported by the narration reported by Imam al-Bukhari that the freed slave Dhakwan used to lead Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in prayer reading directly from the Mushaf. 

Scholars who permit this view the physical act of holding the book as minimal and subordinate to the act of worship.

That said, reading from the Quran while praying is treated as a dispensation — something that is allowed when needed, not the ideal. 

The established Sunnah, practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions, was always to recite from memory. 

If you are working toward building that memorization, our Quran Reading Classes for Adults offer structured, one-on-one sessions specifically designed to help non-Arabic speakers develop solid recitation skills — the kind that will eventually free you from needing the Mushaf in Salah altogether.

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What Do the Four Madhabs Say About Reading the Quran During Salah?

The four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence do not agree on this question, and understanding each position will help you know exactly where you stand.

1. The Shafi’i and Hanbali Position Allows Mushaf Reading in Prayer

Both the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools hold that reading from the Mushaf during Salah is permitted, whether the prayer is obligatory or voluntary. 

Their evidence is the authenticated narration in Sahih al-Bukhari (cited in mu’allaq form with certainty) that Dhakwan, the freed slave of Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), led her in prayer while reading from the Mushaf.

These scholars reasoned that holding the Mushaf, turning pages, and looking at the text are all actions subordinate to the prayer itself, and do not constitute the “excessive movement” (amal kathir) that would invalidate it.

2. The Maliki School Distinguishes Between Obligatory and Voluntary Prayers

The Maliki position is more nuanced. Maliki scholars consider it disliked (makruh) to read from the Mushaf during obligatory (Fard) prayers — without exception. In voluntary (Nafl) prayers, it is disliked if the worshipper begins without the Mushaf and picks it up mid-prayer, as this indicates distraction. 

However, if the worshipper begins a Nafl prayer while holding the Mushaf from the very start, it is permitted without dislike — because voluntary prayers carry greater latitude than obligatory ones.

3. The Hanafi School Considers Mushaf Reading to Invalidate the Prayer

The Hanafi school takes the strictest position: reading from the Mushaf during Salah invalidates the prayer entirely. This is also the view held by Ibn Hazm of the Zahiri school. 

Their reasoning is that holding the Mushaf, directing one’s gaze to the text, and turning pages collectively constitute “excessive action” — which breaks the prayer. 

The Hanafi school also argues that this act resembles the behavior of the People of the Book in their worship, which further supports its impermissibility in their view.

Madhab	Ruling on Mushaf Reading in Salah	Notes
Shafi’i	Permitted (Fard and Nafl)	Supported by Aisha narration in Bukhari
Hanbali	Permitted (Fard and Nafl)	Preferred view of the school
Maliki	Disliked in Fard; permitted in Nafl if started with Mushaf	Strictly disliked mid-Nafl if Mushaf picked up later
Hanafi	Invalidates the prayer	Excessive action (amal kathir) argument

What Is the Default Ruling for Reciting Quran in Salah?

The foundational principle of Salah is that Quran recitation must come from memory — not from a written text. This is not simply a scholarly preference; it is the established Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions without exception. 

The Prophet ﷺ himself designated the most memorized among people as the one most qualified to lead prayer.

The hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari reports:

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

When the earliest emigrants came to Al-`Usba—a place in Quba’, before the arrival of the Prophet, Salim, the slave of Abu Hudhaifa, who knew the Qur’an more than the others used to lead them in prayer.

This hadith establishes memorization as the benchmark of prayer leadership — which itself reflects how deeply the Sunnah ties Salah to recitation from memory (hifz), not from a written source.

Allah ﷻ also praised the believers for carrying His Book within their hearts:

بَلْ هُوَ آيَاتٌۢ بَيِّنَاتٌ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ

Bal huwa āyātun bayyinātun fī ṣudūri alladhīna ūtū al-‘ilm

“Rather, it is distinct verses preserved in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge.” (Al-‘Ankabut 29:49)

This Ayah is a direct commendation of those who memorize and internalize the Quran — a goal every Muslim should work toward, even gradually.

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When Is It Permitted to Use the Mushaf During Prayer?

Reading from the Mushaf in Salah is best understood as a permitted dispensation — not a habit to normalize. The scholars who permit it generally agree on the contexts where it becomes genuinely appropriate.

1. Qiyam al-Layl and Long Voluntary Prayers Justify Mushaf Use

The most common and widely recognized context for reading from the Mushaf during prayer is Qiyam al-Layl — the voluntary night prayer, especially during Ramadan. 

When the imam recites long passages across multiple Juz’, many worshippers and even imams with partial memorization may rely on the Mushaf to sustain lengthy recitation. This is where the Shafi’i and Hanbali dispensation becomes most practically relevant.

2. When a Worshipper Cannot Recite Any Surah Beyond Al-Fatihah

Al-Fatihah is obligatory in every rak’ah. Reciting additional Quran after Al-Fatihah is Sunnah in the first two rak’ahs — and if a worshipper cannot recite anything beyond Al-Fatihah from memory, the prayer remains valid. 

However, if the worshipper wants to recite more and genuinely cannot do so from memory, scholars who permit Mushaf reading allow it in this situation rather than leaving the Sunnah recitation entirely.

3. For New Muslims Still Learning Their First Surahs

New Muslims often enter Islam before they have memorized even the basic Surahs needed for Salah. In this phase, reading from the Mushaf — following the Shafi’i and Hanbali permission — is a practical and compassionate dispensation that should not be accompanied by guilt. 

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Start Building the Recitation Skills That Free You from the Mushaf in Salah

Knowing the ruling is one step — building the memorization and reading fluency to pray confidently from memory is the next. At The Quran Reading Academy, our certified instructors help non-Arabic speaking Muslims at every level:

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Conclusion

Reading from the Quran during prayer is not a black-and-white issue — it is a question with layered scholarly opinion, and understanding those layers protects you from unnecessary doubt in your worship. The majority of scholars permit it as a dispensation, particularly in voluntary prayers and for those still developing their memorization.

What remains constant across all madhabs is the ideal: the Quran belongs in the heart. Use the Mushaf as a stepping stone, not a permanent station. 

Every Surah you commit to memory is one less reason to need it — and one more moment of undivided presence in your Salah. Work toward that goal steadily, and Insha’Allah, the Mushaf in prayer becomes a memory of your early days as a learner.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reading the Quran During Salah