In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Prohibition of looking up while in Salah

By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-’Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him

The shaykh explains this in his explanation of “Riyaadus Saaliheen” under the hadith narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

مَا بَالُ أقْوامٍ يَرْفَعُونَ أبْصَارَهُمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ في صَلاَتِهِمْ » ! فَاشْتَدَّ قَولُهُ في ذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَالَ : « لَيَنْتَهُنَّ عَنْ ذَلِكَ ، أَوْ لَتُخطفَنَّ أَبْصَارُهُمْ

“How is it that some people raise their eyes towards the sky during As-Salah (the prayer)?” He stressed (this point) and added, “People must refrain from raising their eyes towards heaven in Salah (prayer), or else their sights will certainly be snatched away.” [Bukhari and others]

I have seen some people, when they rise from rukoo’ (bowing), saying: “Allah hears those who praises Him (Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah)” and raising their face and eyesight. This is impermissible. Some of the scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, have said that this action invalidates the prayer. The reason being that (this person) falls into a prohibition, and in this case a specific prohibition within the prayer. And in the sharee’ah (legislation) there is a principle: “Whoever performs a prohibited action, that is specific to a particular act of worship, then it is invalidated.”

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله