Sending the hands down in prayer
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Closing the eyes in prayer
Question: I feel a sense of humility in prayer whenever I close my eyes, because I do not see what distracts me from the prayer. Is closing the eyes permissible or disliked in prayer?
Answer: The jurists have mentioned that closing one’s eyes is among the things disliked in prayer; except if there is a valid purpose in doing so, such as if there is something in front of him that distracts him, in which case there is no harm in closing his eyes to that thing that distracts him. However, making it a habit to close one’s eyes in prayer, even if there is nothing in front of him that distracts him, this is disliked.
Placing the left hand with the right hand and putting them on the chest, this is the recommended practice (sunnah) reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and this is the best. If one lets his hands hang down and does not clasp them, there is no harm in that; because he would be leaving a recommended practice (sunnah), and not leaving an obligatory act. So, letting the hands hang down and clasping them in prayer, both are permissible, but clasping them and placing them on the chest is better and more complete, due to its being reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Question: I feel a sense of humility in prayer whenever I close my eyes, because I do not see what distracts me from the prayer. Is closing the eyes permissible or disliked in prayer?
Answer: The jurists have mentioned that closing one’s eyes is among the things disliked in prayer; except if there is a valid purpose in doing so, such as if there is something in front of him that distracts him, in which case there is no harm in closing his eyes to that thing that distracts him. However, making it a habit to close one’s eyes in prayer, even if there is nothing in front of him that distracts him, this is disliked.
Placing the left hand with the right hand and putting them on the chest, this is the recommended practice (sunnah) reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and this is the best. If one lets his hands hang down and does not clasp them, there is no harm in that; because he would be leaving a recommended practice (sunnah), and not leaving an obligatory act. So, letting the hands hang down and clasping them in prayer, both are permissible, but clasping them and placing them on the chest is better and more complete, due to its being reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).