Looking in the Quraan and performing salaah

Q: Recently, I came across a clip of someone quoting the following hadith and explaining its great virtues:

عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من قام بعشر آيات لم يكتب من الغافلين، ومن قام بمائة آية كتب من القانتين، ومن قام بألف آية كتب من المقنطرين (سنن ابي داود رقم 1398)

The same person explained further that if one is unable to recite that amount of verses from memory, he may recite them looking inside the Quran Sharif in salaah, be it in nafl or fardh salaah. His argument was the practise of Hazrat Aaisha (radhiyallaahu anha), who would appoint a person by the name of Zakwaan and he would lead her in salaah during the month of Ramadhaan, while reciting from a mushaf.

My questions are:

1. Does this hadith refers to only reciting in salaah or can refer to reciting outside the salaah?

2. Is it permissible to recite looking inside the Quran sharif while in salaah?

3. If is not permissible in the Hanafi mazhab, is there any permissibly for it in the other mazaahib? Under which circumstances will it be permissible (i.e. any difference in the maslah as far as a person who knows some portion of the Quran from memory and who doesn’t know, and any difference between a fardh and nafl salaah)?

4. If a Hanafi performs his salaah behind a person who is reciting looking inside the Quran sharif, will his salaah be valid?

A:

1. The Hadith is general and hence one will receive the virtue by reciting in salaah or by reciting out of salaah.

2. It is not permissible to perform salaah while looking in the Quraan Shareef. If one performs salaah while looking in the Quraan Shareef, the salaah will break.

3. You may refer to the other mazaahib for their rulings.

4. His salaah will not be valid.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)