Source Information
This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣalāh al-Nabawī ﷺ, authored by al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus.
لا يزال الله عز وجل مقبلا على العبد وهو فى الصلاة ما لم يلتفت فإذا التفت انصرف عنه
“Allah, the Exalted, remains attentive towards the servant during his prayer as long as he does not look around. When he turns his attention away, Allah also turns away from him.”
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to keep his eyes open during prayer.
Some people close their eyes during prayer to develop humility (khushūʿ); this is contrary to the Sunnah.
❀ The head should be lowered during prayer, and one should not look around.
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى رفع بصره إلى السماء فنزلت ﴿الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ﴾ [المؤمنون: 2] فطأطأ رأسه
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to raise his gaze toward the sky during prayer. Then Allah revealed the verse: ‘Those who are humble in their prayer’ [al-Mu’minūn: 2]. After that, he ﷺ would lower his head.”
(Isnād: Ḥasan li-dhātihī)
❀ During tashahhud, one should keep the gaze fixed on the index finger of the right hand.
❀ Looking around during prayer is not permissible.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها says:
سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الالتفات فى الصلاة فقال هو اختلاس يختلسه الشيطان من صلاة العبد
“I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about looking around during prayer. He said: ‘It is a snatching which Shayṭān snatches away from a person’s prayer.’”
❀ Raising the gaze toward the sky during prayer is not permissible, as it carries the risk of loss of eyesight.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لينتهين أقوام يرفعون أبصارهم إلى السماء فى الصلاة أو لا ترجع إليهم
“People must refrain from raising their gaze toward the sky during prayer, or else their eyesight may not return to them.”
This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣalāh al-Nabawī ﷺ, authored by al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus.
The Issue of Gaze During Prayer
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:لا يزال الله عز وجل مقبلا على العبد وهو فى الصلاة ما لم يلتفت فإذا التفت انصرف عنه
“Allah, the Exalted, remains attentive towards the servant during his prayer as long as he does not look around. When he turns his attention away, Allah also turns away from him.”
Reference: Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Iltifat fi al-Salah: 909
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb by al-Albānī: 554
(Ḥasan)❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to keep his eyes open during prayer.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Salah, Bab Idha Ṣallā fī Thawb Lahu Aʿlām wa Naẓara ilā ʿAlamihā: 373, 374
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 556
Some people close their eyes during prayer to develop humility (khushūʿ); this is contrary to the Sunnah.
❀ The head should be lowered during prayer, and one should not look around.
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى رفع بصره إلى السماء فنزلت ﴿الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ﴾ [المؤمنون: 2] فطأطأ رأسه
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to raise his gaze toward the sky during prayer. Then Allah revealed the verse: ‘Those who are humble in their prayer’ [al-Mu’minūn: 2]. After that, he ﷺ would lower his head.”
Reference: al-Mustadrak ʿalā al-Ḥākim: 2/393, Ḥadīth: 3483
(Isnād: Ḥasan li-dhātihī)
❀ During tashahhud, one should keep the gaze fixed on the index finger of the right hand.
Reference: al-Nasā’ī, Kitab al-Taṭbīq, Bab Mawḍiʿ al-Baṣar fī al-Tashahhud: 1161
(Ṣaḥīḥ)❀ Looking around during prayer is not permissible.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها says:
سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الالتفات فى الصلاة فقال هو اختلاس يختلسه الشيطان من صلاة العبد
“I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about looking around during prayer. He said: ‘It is a snatching which Shayṭān snatches away from a person’s prayer.’”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitab al-Adhān, Bab al-Iltifāt fī al-Ṣalāh: 751
❀ Raising the gaze toward the sky during prayer is not permissible, as it carries the risk of loss of eyesight.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لينتهين أقوام يرفعون أبصارهم إلى السماء فى الصلاة أو لا ترجع إليهم
“People must refrain from raising their gaze toward the sky during prayer, or else their eyesight may not return to them.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitab al-Ṣalāh, Bab al-Nahy ʿan Rafʿ al-Baṣar ilā al-Samā’: 428
