"Why don't Muslims close their eyes when they are praying? Closing of eyes helps to concentrate and indeed concentration is important in prayers.?
Truly, concentration is important and required for a conscious and genuine prayer, But the misconception here is that one can only concentrate with the eyes close. This is a wrong judgement because we do a thousand and one things with concentration and with our eyes wide open. For instance, concentration is required for threading a needle, listening to news on television, playing the game of chess, the thought process etc. Who would dare suggest that you should close your eyes for any of these?
The Muslim is required to perform salaat with his eyes opened based on the practice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). There are advantages of opening the eye while in salaat. One of it is that you are trained not to look up or sideways in salaat no matter what is happening around you, you will carryover the habit of not being distracted in every aspect of your daily life since we live in a world of distractions. This is a practical approach of making a Muslim to become pious and self-contented.
Those who insist on closing eyes while praying should think twice. How much of concentration would they achieve were they to pray in the forest (of creeping dangerous animals) or beside the express while on a journey. And for the People of the Book who are amazed, then even in their scripture it is written that Jesus prayed with his eyes opened. (Matthew 14:19).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited