Looking at the Place of Prostration

"The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to incline his head during prayer and fix his sight on the ground." [Baihaqi]
 
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) "used to forbid looking up at the sky" [Bukhari] and he emphasized this prohibition so much that he said: "People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight will not return to them" (in another narration: "…or their sight will be plucked away." [Bukhari, Muslim, Siraaj]
 
These Ahadith show that during prayer the Sunnah is to fix one's sight at the place of prostration on the ground. This is part of the proper protocol of appearing before our Lord.
 
So the action of some worshippers of closing their eyes during prayer is misdirected piety. The best guidance is the guidance of Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam).
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