Is it impermissible to close your eyes during salah and sujud?
During salah the norm is to direct your gaze towards the place of prostration while standing, your feet when bowing and your nose while prostrating and on the ground while sitting.
There is a hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised keep your eyes open during salah and this is how the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed. Scholars have commented that the reason for this could be that the reason it protects you from being bitten by snakes or scorpions.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
“Anyone from you who performs salah should not close his/her eyes”. (Tabarani)
If you semi close your eyes to increase focus and concentration or close your eyes during some parts is acceptable, but your eyes should not be closed throughout the salah.
Among the jurists were those who did not dislike closing the eyes at all. However Imam al-Nawawi said:
“The preferred opinion is that it is not disliked if one does not fear harm, because it combines humility and presence of the heart, and prevents directing the gaze and dispersing the mind.”
Allah knows best.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim