recite from memory?.
Praise be to Allaah.
In prayer, it is better to recite from memory. See question no. 3465 .
Outside of prayer, it is better for a person to do that which will
increase his khushoo' (humility, focus). If his khushoo' will be
increased by reciting from memory, then that isbetter; if his khushoo'
will be increased by reading from the Mus-haf, then that is better. If
it is the same in either case, then reading from the Mus-haf is
better, because it combines reading and looking, and his eyes will be
protected from looking at things that may distracthim from reciting
and pondering the meaning.
Al-Nawawi said in al-Adhkaar (p. 90-91):
Reading Qur'aan from the Mus-haf is better than reciting from memory;
thisis the view of our companions and it is well known from the salaf
(may Allaah be pleased with them). This does not apply in all cases
however;if the reader can focus andponder the meanings more when
reciting from memory than when reading from the Mus-haf, then reciting
from memory is better. If it is the same in both cases, then reading
from the Mus-haf is better. This is what the salaf meant.
There are weak (da'eef) ahaadeeth narrated from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) which cannot be used as proof that it
is better to look at the Mus-haf. We mention them only to draw
attention to the fact that they are weak. These include:
"Looking at the Mus-haf is an act of worship; for a child to look at
his parentsis an act of worship; looking at 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib is an
act of worship." This is a fabricated (mawdoo') hadeeth, as al-Albaani
saidin al-Silsilah al-Da'eefah, 1/531.
"Give your eyes their shareof worship: looking at the Mus-haf,
thinking about it and pondering its wonders." This is also fabricated
(mawdoo'). Al-Silsilah al-Da'eefah, 4/88.
"Five things are acts of worship: eating little, sitting in the
mosque, looking at the Ka'bah, looking at the Mus-haf andlooking at
the face of a scholar." This is a very weak (da'eef jiddan) hadeeth.
Da'eef al-Jaami' al-Sagheer, no. 2855.
And Allaah knows best.
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