closing eyes in prayers

[syed_shia]

Salaam aleikum.

I am a follower of sistani , and would like to know if its permissible to close one eyes entirely in salah, whether it be mustahab prayers or the fardh.

Its hard to keep one concentration fully in prayer, i feel closing ones eyes will help alot.

Plz someone let me know, and post the ruling on this.

Shukran

Ali

[Basim Ali]

(salam),

It is Makrooh a/c to him.

...It is also Makrooh during prayers to shut the eyes or turn towards right or left, and to play with one's beard and hands, and to cross the fingers of one hand into those of another, and to spit...

http://www.sistani.org/local.php?modules=nav&nid=2&bid=59&pid=2965

wa (salam),

Basim Ali Jafri

[dawud]

Im an ex-christian convert and christians almost always close their eyes for prayers so I tend to do it out of habit in salah and because it helps to block out the world around me during prayer....is it wrong? Iv'e been meaning to ask about it for a long time actually...

[syed_shia]

salaam

thanks for the reply.

Now im confused. Ayatullah sistani office replied back to my question and said this:

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful There is no problem in that as long as that does not change the form ofprayer Wassalamu Alaykum

confused?

so can we close the eyes or not?

ali

[Basim Ali]

(salam),

If you had the answer, why did you make a topic about it? :dry:

Anyways, from what I have heard, it is Makruh only if it leads you to think about things other than prayer, worship and God. If it helps you concentrate, there is ofcourse, no problem.

The Ahlul Sunnah have the same, exact ruling.

However, I don't think people did it at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) since I've heard of a tradition in which a person was praying in his garden and his eye caught the sight of a pretty bird, which distracted him, so he donated the garden. This proves, people did not close their eyes at that time. Though, that's just my assumption, from the incident. I could be wrong.

Personally, I believe closing your eyes, usually will lead you to think about something else (perhaps a recent incident) which will become a cause for forgetfulness in the prayer. The only time closing your eyes does help in cuilding your concentration, is when there is too much distraction if you open your eyes, perhaps too many birds flying, or too many people walking by.

wa (salam),

Basim Ali Jafri

[dawud]

I start to think about the floor if my eyes are open..... :squeez:

[Rohani]

(salam)

I close my eyes much, and would say if it distracts you while closing your eyes then open them.

(wasalam)

Edited December 12, 2009 by theunknownpreacher

[Abu_Zayed]

Salam,

I have asked about this and been told it is alright, It does help me concentrate to close my eyes.

salam

[MissShiaMuslim]

Salams

I only just recently started praying since my revertion, and i read from the book i place on my prayer mat, but now that I'm learning it off by heart more each day, i am starting to focus on something on the floor, or the top of my prayer mat, if i find it to hard, i close my eyes, and think about the words im saying and their meanings. Once i find that im back on track, i open them again. I dont think it should be past as Haram, i mean aslong as we are praying our 5 daily prayers, why should it be?

I heard a hadith that you can only close your eyes during concentration, but no other reasons. But i cannot phrase it word for word, so please dont take my word for it.

I hope you find the answers you are looking for, but my advice, for now, do what you feel comfortable with, aslong as your intention is pure.

Assalam 3laikum

Sis.Emma