Rulings on Averting One’s Gaze in Ṣalāh
Averting One’s Gaze from the Point of Prostration
Whilst praying, it is disliked for one to turn away from the ṣalāh. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was once asked concerning this and replied: “It is an embezzlement that Shayṭān embezzles from the ṣalāh of the servant.”1 That is, an unlawful seizure or a form of stealing, with which Shayṭān is able to embezzle from the ṣalāh of the servant. Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) said: “My son! I caution you from turning away whilst praying. For such averting of one’s gaze destroys the ṣalāh. If you must, then at least confine it to the...