Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I would like to know if you can hold the Quran while praying a Nafl Salath? Is it permissible if you want to read for along time?
Answer:
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
It is not permissible to recite whilst holding and looking into the Qur’an in prayer. This applies to both Nafl and Fard prayer. (Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah) Rather, the sunna is to recite what you have memorized of the Qur’an–and this is a sure incentive to increase in one’s memorization of the Qur’an–and to also spend time reciting the Qur’an outside prayer.
Jazakum Allahu Khayr
Wassalam