Can We Pray Tarawih with the Quran in Hand?

There is nothing wrong with reading from the Mus-haf in Tarawih prayer . `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had a slave who used to lead her in prayer in Ramadan, reading from the Mus-haf. (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari in a mu’allaq report, 1/245)

Ibn Wahb (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Ibn Shihab said: The best of us used to read from the Mus-haf during Ramadan.” (Al-Mudawwanah, 1/224) 

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him)said: 

“If he reads from the Mus-haf that does not invalidate his prayer, whether he had memorized it or not. Rather he should do that if he has not memorized Al-Fatihah, and if he turns the pages sometimes whilst praying that does not invalidate his prayer. … This is our view and the view of Malik, Abu Yusuf, Muhammad and Ahmad.”  (Al-Majmu’, 4/27) 

Sahnon (may Allah have mercy on him)said: “Malik said: There is nothing wrong with the Imam leading the people (in prayer) whilst reading from the Mus-haf in Ramadan and in Nafl prayers . Ibn Al-Qasim (may Allah have mercy on him)said: That is makrooh in the case of obligatory prayers.” (Al-Mudawwanah, 1/224) 

With regard to those who object to that on the grounds that holding the Mus-haf and turning its pages constitute excessive movement, this is an invalid objection, because it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led the people in prayer whilst he was holding Umamah, his daughter’s daughter. (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 494 and Muslim, 543)

Holding the Mus-haf while praying is not more serious than holding a small child whilst praying. 

We have quoted the fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him)stating that this is permissible, in the answer to question no. 1255 . 

And Allah knows best.