Ruling on following the imam’s recitation in a book in which there is a translation of the meanings of the Qur’aan

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

Following the recitation of the imam in the Mushaf is
contrary to the Sunnah and is to some extent makrooh. This has been
explained previously in the answers to questions nos.
52876 and
10067.

Secondly:

With regard to following the imam’s recitation in a book in
which there is a translation of the meanings of the Qur’aan, this requires
further discussion:

1.

If he says something from the book whilst following the
imam’s recitation [i.e., moving his lips whilst reading], then his prayer is
invalid, because the translation of the meaning of the Qur’aan is regarded
as a commentary on it (tafseer), and it is not Qur’aan according to the
consensus of the scholars and it does not come under the same rulings as
Qur’aan, so these words invalidate the prayer.

See: Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth
al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta’, 4/165

2.

If it is limited to following the words by looking and
thinking without speaking, then the prayer is valid even though it is
makrooh.

al-Nawawi said: “If he turns the pages sometimes during his
prayer, it is not invalidated, and if he looks at a book other than the
Qur’aan and reads that in his mind, it does not invalidate his prayer, even
if it is done for a long time, but it is makrooh.

End quote from al-Majmoo‘, 4/95

Al-Mardaawi said: Prayer does not become invalidated by
looking for a long time in a book if he reads it in his mind, if he does not
actually utter the words, according to the correct view. … It was narrated
from Imam Ahmad that he did that. And it was said that it does invalidate
the prayer.

End quote from al-Insaaf, 2/98

Something similar to this was said in Fath al-Qadeer,
1/403

Following the recitation by looking in the book and pondering
the meaning is permissible, although it is makrooh, but this description of
it being makrooh does not apply if there is a need for that, because the
basic principle according to the fuqaha’ is that that which is makrooh
becomes permissible if there is a need.

Seeking to focus properly in prayer and understand the
meaning of what the imam is reciting is a kind of need that makes this no
longer makrooh, because understanding the meaning of the verses is something
that is important for the person praying behind the imam, so that he may
ponder them and think of their meanings.

Something similar to this was stated in a fatwa by Shaykh Ibn
Baaz, that it is permissible for the person praying qiyaam al-layl behind
the imam to hold a Mushaf in which there is tafseer, and if he does not
understand a word he may look at its meaning. This was mentioned in the
answer to question number 9505.

But what is better than that is to strive to learn Arabic and
learn the Holy Qur’aan and its meanings, so that it will be easy for you to
ponder it and focus properly in prayer, and you will not need to carry this
book and look at it whilst praying.

And Allah knows best.