Islamic Rule on Closing Your Eyes When Praying

Illustration of Shalat (Unsplash)

YOGYAKARTA – When performing prayers, we are asked to remain focus so that our minds and hearts remain focused on Allah SWT. In order to achieve this goal, there are many habits that Muslims carry out during prayer. One way is to close the eyes.

Closing your eyes when praying can be done either when praying munfarid (alone) or in congregation. So what is the actual ruling on closing your eyes when praying?

Rule on Closing the Eyes when Praying 

From the NU Online website, Sheikh Abu Bakar Syaththa Ad-Dimyati in the book I'anatut Thalibin explains the law of closing your eyes when praying in four details, namely as follows.

1. Permissible and Not Makruh

Sheikh Abu Bakar Syaththa Ad-Dimyati explained that the law of closing your eyes when performing prayer is not makruh or permissible. This is because there are no rules stating that it is haram. However, this habit is permissible as long as it is safe and does not put yourself or others in a dangerous condition.

2. Wajib in Certain Conditions

Closing your eyes during prayer becomes wajib (mandatory) when in front of you is someone with their private parts exposed. This condition can occur even though it is rare, for example in a crisis of adequate clothing.

In certain situations it is permissible to pray without clothes. For example, there were no clothes that covered the private parts or there were no other means to cover the private parts. In situations like that, you are required to close your eyes when praying.

3. Sunnah in Certain Condition

It is sunnah to close the eyes during praying when there are pictures and carvings in front of us. Both have the potential to interfere with concentration, so it is sunnah to close your eyes.

4. Makruh If Dangerous

If closing your eyes while praying leads the person to something dangerous then the law becomes makruh. For example, when praying in the forest, it is feared that snakes or wild animals will appear which, if you are not careful, will endanger your body or life.

Rules on Eye Gaze during Shalat

Regarding how the eyes should look when praying, Sheikh Zainuddin Al-Malibari in Fathul Mu'in explains that the eyes should be directed to the point of prostration. This was done to remain focus.

It is even recommended to remain focused on looking at the place of prostration even when praying in a dark place, near the Kaaba, or when blind. The position of the eye gaze is from the takbiratul ihram position to the greeting. It is not permitted during prayer to look to the right, left, front or above.

It is also sunnah to direct one's gaze to the index finger during the final tasyahud with the finger raised.

That is information regarding the rule of closing your eyes when praying. Visit VOI.id to get other interesting information.