Reciting the Qur'aan from the Mushaf

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever wants to love Allaah and His Messenger should recite from the Mushaf.” [As-Saheehah 2342] 

Commenting of the above hadeeth, Shaykh al-Albaanee stated: ‘This hadeeth indicates the importance of the Mushaf and reciting from it, because recitation of the Qur’aan is an act of worship and looking at the Mushaf is another act of worship. All praise is due to Allaah Who facilitated the writing of the Mushaf. In fact, the publication of the Mushaf in our time is one of the greatest blessings Allaah has bestowed on His slaves.

I say: As regards reciting the Qur’aan from the Mushaf in obligatory prayer, such practice is not known among the salaf and the khalaf. With regard to reciting the Qur’aan from the Mushaf in voluntary prayers like the Taraaweeh prayer and the like, there is no decisive text reported regarding its prohibition or recommendation; though some scholars disliked it because it would weaken the resolve of the Muslims from memorizing the Book of Allaah the Exalted. Therefore if the Muslims depend on reading from the Mushaf [in their voluntary prayers], such would reduce the number of Huffaadh [those who have memorized the entire Qur’aan], and this is something not praiseworthy.

Source: As-Saheehah, hadeeth no. 2342