of forgetfulness if it was done out of forgetfulness. There opinion seems to be the soundest of all. (1)
[4/ 19] Raising one’s eyesight up wards or else where except the place of prostration:
One of muslims’ mistakes when doing Sal?t is raising one’s eye sight towards the sky, the Im?m, to the left or the right, the thing which paves the way for waswasah and Sahwu to take place. A muslim is ordered [by the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -)] to lower his/her gaze downwards to the prostration spot, (2) except in Tashahhud in which case one’s eye sight should be directed to one’s [right] index finger only. It was affirmed that the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) never moved his eye sight beyond his index finger. (3)
Al-’Izz Ibn Abdis Sal?m was asked about those who believe that ‘the one doing Sal?t should direct his eye sight toward his feet when doing Ruk?‘ , to his nose when doing Suj?d and to his lap in the sitting posture’, is their opinion supported by any had?th, ‘Athar or even a rationale??
He answered [as reported] in his Fat?w? (p. 68): ‘This is not true; their opinion is not based on any kind of evidence whether from the Qur’?n or Sunnah. All?h ( - عز وجل -) knows best’.
[Proofs from the Sunnah]:
(1) ‘Aishah said: ‘I asked the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) about the Hukm of looking here and there in Sal?t’. He ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘This is the portion which Shait?n steals from one’s Sal?t’. (4)
(1) See: Ad - Dinul Khalis (vol 3 / pp. 211 - 2).
(2) See: the article in “Al-Mujtama‘ magazine” (issue no. 855) titled with ‘ Tanb?h?t ‘Al? Ba ‘di ‘Akht?’ Allat? Yaf‘aluha Ba’dul Muslim?n F? Sal?tihim”.
(3) Narrated by Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (vo. 1 /no. 260), An-Nas?’? in “Al-Mujtab?” (vol. 3 / p. 39), Ibn Khuzaimah in his “Sah?h” (vol. 1 / no. 355), IBN Hibb?n in his “Sah?h” (vol. 3 / p. 308), Ahmad in “Al-Musnad” (vol. 4 / no. 15), Ab? ‘Uw?nah in “Al-Musnad” (vol. 2 / no. 226), Al-Bagawi in “Sharhus Sunnah” (vol. 3 / no. 178) and Al-Baihaqi in “As-Sunnan Al-Kubr?” (vol. 2 / no. 132). The had?th is authentic.
(4) Narrated by Al-Bukahri in his “Sah?h” (vol. 2 / no. 234), (vol. 6 / no. 338), Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (vol. 1 / no. 239), At-Tirmith? in “Al-J?mi‘” (vol. 2 / no. 482), An-Nas?’? in “Al-Mujtaba” (vol. 3 / no. 8), Ahmad in “Al-Musnad” (vol. 6 / ... =
= ... no. 70, 106) and Al-H?kim in “Al-Mustadrak” (vol. 1 / no. 237) and said ‘ Both Bukh?r? and Muslim narrated it’ although Muslim did not as Ibn Al-Mulaqqin said in “Tuhfatul Muht?j” (vol. 1 / p. 361) and Ahmad Sh?kir in his commentary on “J?mi‘ At-Tirmith?” (vol. 2 / p. 485).