The ruling on closing the eyes in prayer to increase humility

Question : If someone were to say, “I find that I am more humble when I close my eyes than when I do not close them. So, will you issue a ruling for me to close my eyes?”

Answer : The answer is no. Because this humility that you attain is through a disliked action from Shaytan, it is like the humility of the Sufis in their dhikr (remembrance of Allah) with which they worship, and that is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Shaytan may cast into your heart, or he may distance [himself] from your heart, so do not be tempted to close your eyes in order to be led into what is disliked. So we say: open your eyes and try to be humble in your prayer. As for closing your eyes to be humble without a reason, that is not permissible, because that is from Shaytan.