The ruling on raising the gaze to the sky during prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The previous hadithSunan Abi Dawud 913Sahih (Al-Albani) indicates the permissibility of looking in front of the one praying...?
Answer:
If there is a need for it.
Q: Does looking... invalidate the prayer?
The Shaykh: It does not invalidate it, but he must repent for it; it is not permissible for him.
Q: Here it says: If one is in front of the Ka'bah, looking at it is better than looking at the place of prostration?
The Shaykh: I do not know of its authenticity. The Sunnah is to lower the gaze and be humble.
Q: Does the prohibition not imply invalidity?
The Shaykh: No, the prohibition is regarding raising the gaze; the prayer is not invalidated, but one is prohibited from raising the gaze.
Q: The threat does not indicate the invalidity of the prayer.
The Shaykh: It is a threat regarding the snatching of the eyes; we ask Allah for safety.
Q: Is there any report indicating looking at the place of prostration?
The Shaykh: It appears that it was derived from the command to be humble and not to raise the gaze; otherwise, we have not been informed of it from the words of the scholars.
Q: Is the prayer valid with dislike if one raises his gaze to the sky?
The Shaykh: This is what appears to be the case; the prayer is valid because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order its repetition, nor did he say it was invalidated; he only prohibited them from raising their gazes.
The previous hadith
They should stop doing that, otherwise their sight will be snatched away.
لينتهنّ عن ذلك أو لتخطفنّ أبصارهمAnswer:
If there is a need for it.
Q: Does looking... invalidate the prayer?
The Shaykh: It does not invalidate it, but he must repent for it; it is not permissible for him.
Q: Here it says: If one is in front of the Ka'bah, looking at it is better than looking at the place of prostration?
The Shaykh: I do not know of its authenticity. The Sunnah is to lower the gaze and be humble.
Q: Does the prohibition not imply invalidity?
The Shaykh: No, the prohibition is regarding raising the gaze; the prayer is not invalidated, but one is prohibited from raising the gaze.
Q: The threat does not indicate the invalidity of the prayer.
The Shaykh: It is a threat regarding the snatching of the eyes; we ask Allah for safety.
Q: Is there any report indicating looking at the place of prostration?
The Shaykh: It appears that it was derived from the command to be humble and not to raise the gaze; otherwise, we have not been informed of it from the words of the scholars.
Q: Is the prayer valid with dislike if one raises his gaze to the sky?
The Shaykh: This is what appears to be the case; the prayer is valid because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order its repetition, nor did he say it was invalidated; he only prohibited them from raising their gazes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.