Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that I asked the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about turning one's attention here and there during prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied that this is a way for Satan to steal from a servant's prayer.

Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair narrates that Hazrat Abu Bakr would not turn here and there while performing prayer.

Hazrat Zaid bin Wahb narrates that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab saw a man who, after the sun had set, performed two rak'ahs before the Maghrib prayer and during them kept turning here and there. When he completed the prayer, Hazrat Umar struck him with his whip and said, "Do not turn here and there during prayer." He did not say anything to him regarding those two rak'ahs.

Hazrat Ibn Masood says that Allah Almighty remains attentive towards the servant’s prayer as long as his ablution is not broken and as long as he does not become distracted here and there.

Hazrat Abu Darda says: O people! Avoid turning your attention here and there during prayer, because turning your attention here and there invalidates the prayer. If your attention gets distracted in voluntary (nafl) prayer, then do not let your thoughts scatter in obligatory (fard) prayer.

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) considered turning here and there during prayer to be disliked.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that turning one's attention here and there during prayer is a way for Satan to steal from the prayer.

Hazrat Abu Huraira says that when you pray, your Lord is in front of you and you whisper and speak to Him, so do not turn your attention here and there. Hazrat Ata says that I have learned that Allah Almighty says: O son of Adam! Where do you turn your attention? I am better than everything to which you turn your attention.

Hazrat Mujahid says that there is fear regarding the person who turns here and there during prayer, that Allah Almighty may turn his face away, because Allah Almighty is attentive towards him while he is engaged elsewhere!

Hazrat Abdullah bin Munqidh narrates that when a servant stands for prayer, Allah Almighty turns His attention towards him. When the servant becomes distracted here and there, Allah Almighty also turns away from him.

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair says that turning here and there makes the prayer incomplete.

Hazrat Khalid bin Abi Bakr says that Hazrat Salim and Hazrat Qasim did not turn their attention here and there during prayer.

Hazrat Ka'b says that when a person stands in prayer, Allah Almighty also pays attention to him as long as he does not become distracted.

Hasan narrates that Hazrat Abu Huraira, during his illness of death, said: "Make me sit up, I have a trust from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Do not turn your attention here and there in prayer. If for some reason you have to do so, then in any case, avoid it during the obligatory prayer."

Hazrat Hakam says that the perfection of prayer is that you do not know who is on your right and who is on your left.

Hazrat Imran bin Husain, regarding the verse of the Holy Qur'an { وَالَّذِینَ ہُمْ عَلَی صَلاَتِہِمْ دَائِمُونَ }, says that it refers to those people who do not get distracted here and there during prayer.

Hazrat Asim says that I have never seen Hazrat Abu Wa'il turning here and there during prayer.