The ruling on looking at the index finger or the place of prostration in prayer

Question:
May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, he says: Is it a recommended practice (sunnah), O Shaykh, to look at the index finger, or at the place of prostration, during the first and last tashahhud? The scholars say that in prayer one looks at the place of prostration, except in the case of the tashahhud, in which case one looks at the index finger.

Answer:
In the case of the tashahhud, one looks at the index finger; in the case of sitting between the two prostrations or in the tashahhud, one looks at the index finger. As for the rest of the prayer, one looks at the place of prostration, because this is more conducive to humility for him. If he lets his gaze wander in front of him, it distracts him in the prayer. But if he keeps it on the place of prostration or on looking at the index finger while sitting, that is more conducive to humility and further from distractions.