Question:

While praying the night prayer a person sometimes holds the Quran to recite during the prayer, turning the pages along the way.  Is this permissible?  Which is better, to recite from memory or to read from Quran?

Answer:

The mother of the believers had a male servant who would lead her in the night prayer and he would recite from the Quran and he would have to flip pages. That was approved. The scholars say that if Aisha allowed this and many of the companions as well, then it is permissible.  
As far as the superiority, of course reciting from memory is much better.  Perhaps you are reading the Quran in order to finish the entire Quran so this is a strong motive to complete memorization of the Quran.  Reciting from what you have memorized in the night prayer is the best way to help you to maintain what you have memorized.  If you are asking me about reciting in the night prayer I would say it is more reward to recite from the heart.  

Dr.Mohammed Salah

From ask huda program