The Ruling on Closing the Eyes in Prayer

Here is a message from our brother Khalaf, son of Qasim, from Doha, Qatar. Our brother has a number of questions, among which is one that says: I close my eyes in my prayer, and I find humility in doing so. When a friend of mine saw me, he said: This is not permissible, and your prayer is not valid. What is your opinion, if you would be so kind?
Answer: Closing the eyes in prayer is disliked (makruh) according to the scholars, but it does not harm the prayer. The prayer is valid and there is no harm. If you close your eyes, there is no blame on you. In fact, some scholars of knowledge said: If it makes your heart more humble, there is nothing wrong with it. However, the more apparent and closer view is that you do not close your eyes. It is said that this is from the practice of the Jews in their prayer.
So, the result is that it is better for you not to close your eyes at all, and to strive for humility without closing your eyes. This is the more cautious and stronger position.
As for the prayer, it is valid. If you close your eyes, it does not harm. It is not a condition of it to open the eyes. Praise be to Allah. Yes.