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Does prayer become void by a slight glance with the eyes while guarding shoes in the mosque?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars are unanimous on the desirability of humility and lowering the gaze in prayer, and the detestability of looking around unless there is a need. Looking around is permissible when there is a need, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did. However, looking around without a need is disliked, and it is "a snatching that Satan snatches from the servant." The disliked looking around does not invalidate the prayer unless it reaches the point of turning one's back to the Qibla. Some scholars permitted looking out of the corner of one's eye without turning the neck, and the Shafi'is considered glancing with the eye without turning around to be permissible. It is preferable to fix one's gaze on the place of prostration unless there is a need. Also, it is not permissible to pray alone behind a row.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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