Ruling on Closing the Eyes During Prayer and Exception

Shar‘i Ruling on Closing the Eyes During Prayer


Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām

Question​

What is the Shar‘i ruling on closing the eyes during prayer?

Answer​

Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:


Closing the eyes during prayer is makrūh (disliked) because it goes against the usual practice of the Prophet ﷺ, who prayed with his eyes open. Following his Sunnah, one should keep the eyes open in prayer.

When Is Closing the Eyes Allowed?​

If there is a necessity or a valid reason, then closing the eyes is permissible. Examples include:

• If there is a wall in front of the worshipper with distracting patterns or designs.
• If the prayer mat has patterns that disturb focus and khushū‘.
• If there is bright light causing discomfort or affecting vision.

In these situations, closing the eyes is allowed, as it helps maintain focus and humility in prayer.

Additional Reference​

For further detail, see Imām Ibn al-Qayyim’s رحمه الله Zād al-Ma‘ād, where he discusses this issue comprehensively.


هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب