Does Looking at Eyes During Prayer Affect Its Validity?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

Does looking at someone’s eyes invalidate prayer—like a child’s eyes while still looking down—or looking at eyes on carpets or shirts? What do eyes represent in prayer, and is it haram to wear clothing with eyes on it?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Looking at someone’s eyes, such as a child’s, during prayer does not invalidate the prayer as long as one maintains the general conditions, integrals, and humility. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) instructed us to keep our gaze lowered toward the place of prostration to maintain concentration. Looking at something distracting, like eyes on carpets or clothing, is considered offensive but does not invalidate the prayer.

Looking around unnecessarily disrupts the prayer’s spiritual essence, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Allah does not cease to turn to the servant in prayer as long as he does not turn away; but if he turns his face away, Allah turns away from him.” [Abu Dawud]

Extraneous Movements in Prayer

The prayer is invalidated by adding, even if absentmindedly, a motion that is not one of the actions of prayer, provided it is both considered by common acknowledgment to be much and uninterruptedly consecutive, such as three steps or successively moving three separate body parts like the head and two hands, (though an up-and-down motion is considered just one) or three or more consecutive motions.

The prayer is not invalidated by actions that are not much, such as two steps, or is much but separated so that the subsequent motion is considered unconnected with the preceding one. If an action is grossly improper, such as jumping, it invalidates the prayer. [Keller, Reliance of the Traveller]

Regarding images of eyes on clothing, please visit this related answer.

This answer addresses the issue of wearing clothes with images while praying.

Thus, prayer remains valid if one glances at a child’s eyes or carpet patterns without excessive motion. However, maintaining a lowered gaze and wearing plain, modest clothing during prayer fosters a more significant presence of heart and reverence.

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Mohammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.