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

                A group of brothers were getting together to pray Qiyam during the month of Ramadan, and they are mostly converts. Is it wrong for the Imam to lead the prayer from the (arabic) Mushaf, and for them to join him in prayer, while following with the English translation? They say that when they do this, they can follow along and get a greater khushu' by following along and getting the meaning.
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.