Political Crossfire Forums

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

eynon · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:13 am Post subject: Re: Closing eyes during prayer?

Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

A good question..........when I pray to God I don't always close my eyes......I find that some-times when I leave my eyes open and focus on a point my prayers are even more focused then when I close em.

But what-ever brings you close to our lord is best. Allah is merciful and will come to you on the terms with which you meet him best. Our lord is bigger then eyes open or eyes closed........

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

eynon wrote: Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

A good question..........when I pray to God I don't always close my eyes......I find that some-times when I leave my eyes open and focus on a point my prayers are even more focused then when I close em.

But what-ever brings you close to our lord is best. Allah is merciful and will come to you on the terms with which you meet him best. Our lord is bigger then eyes open or eyes closed........

That's a good point, Eynon, but I forgot to mention something else: when we pray, we tend to look at where we prostrate as a sign of humility in front of our Lord. I usually find that closing my eyes helps me concentrate more, and I still pray to God, even though that removes my sight from what I prostrate on (the ground in front of me), and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility. But it's beliefs like yours regarding the matter that made me question it in the first place. :?

eynon · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:36 am Post subject: Re: Closing eyes during prayer?

Saracen wrote: eynon wrote: Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

A good question..........when I pray to God I don't always close my eyes......I find that some-times when I leave my eyes open and focus on a point my prayers are even more focused then when I close em.

But what-ever brings you close to our lord is best. Allah is merciful and will come to you on the terms with which you meet him best. Our lord is bigger then eyes open or eyes closed........

That's a good point, Eynon, but I forgot to mention something else: when we pray, we tend to look at where we prostrate as a sign of humility in front of our Lord. I usually find that closing my eyes helps me concentrate more, and I still pray to God, even though that removes my sight from what I prostrate on (the ground in front of me), and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility. But it's beliefs like yours regarding the matter that made me question it in the first place. :?

(you get my message bro?)

as to your point........both prophets of our faiths made their lives a prayer. We live for Allah........I don't claim to be at that point right now, infact I find myself quite angry with people of my own faith. But that is not an excuse, our thoughts as belivers should be turned to our lord as much as possible.

how-ever, this is not an easy thing.........but we are young, we have time to honor Allah.........perhaps as Old-men we can discuss such matters more in depth. But now, we hunger, we search, we screw-up..........but we are forgiven.

this is the nature of our lord.

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

eynon wrote: (you get my message bro?)

Yes, I just did. You'll get a reply soon. Thanks for the kind words.

Quote: as to your point........both prophets of our faiths made their lives a prayer. We live for Allah........I don't claim to be at that point right now, infact I find myself quite angry with people of my own faith. But that is not an excuse, our thoughts as belivers should be turned to our lord as much as possible.

how-ever, this is not an easy thing.........but we are young, we have time to honor Allah.........perhaps as Old-men we can discuss such matters more in depth. But now, we hunger, we search, we screw-up..........but we are forgiven.

this is the nature of our lord.

Yes, indeed. We are human.

By the way, my prayers were answered: I got my question answered today, and yes, indeed, God/Allah/YHWH is the Most Merciful: he will accept prayer even when the mind is thinking about other things that are not too sinful. I was told, however, that when bowing or prostrating, we should take a look at what we prostrate because these are positions of utmost humility in front of Him.

ToonArmyIsComing · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 5888 Location: Ontario

Saracen wrote: I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

I find praying to be a waste of time to be honest. It just gives false psychological comfort when in reality where we are fooling ourselves into asking God for help, etc, but then again, I am talking more on personal experiences where God [or his subjects] has thrown the kitchen sink at me.

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

ToonArmyIsComing wrote: Saracen wrote: I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

I find praying to be a waste of time to be honest. It just gives false psychological comfort when in reality where we are fooling ourselves into asking God for help, etc, but then again, I am talking more on personal experiences where God [or his subjects] has thrown the kitchen sink at me.

That is your opinion, which you're most certainly entitled to.

Muslima · Joined: 13 Nov 2005 Posts: 1642

My bestfriend is like you, Saracen.

She can't concentrate in a prayer without closing her eyes.

Have you ever tried to concentrate with opened eyes?
I think it will be easy to do so if you practice it often, and feed your mind with sentences like "I can do it."

But honestly, I don't know if it is MAKROOH or anything else.....

emerald · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 8072 Location: uk

Quote: and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility.

i dont think islamically there is anything about keeping your eyes open or closed, if you're doing so to ensure concentration and humility then your nia (intention) is what matters. at least thats the way i understand it.

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

Hmm. I never thought it about it before, but I tend to close my eyes when I pray. (unless I am doing it while I drive or something).

What was your mother's reasoning behind saying this?

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

Hmm. I never thought it about it before, but I tend to close my eyes when I pray. (unless I am doing it while I drive or something).

What was your mother's reasoning behind saying this?

This was her reasoning:

"When we pray, we tend to look at where we prostrate as a sign of humility in front of our Lord. I usually find that closing my eyes helps me concentrate more, and I still pray to God, even though that removes my sight from what I prostrate on (the ground in front of me), and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility."

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

Saracen wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

Hmm. I never thought it about it before, but I tend to close my eyes when I pray. (unless I am doing it while I drive or something).

What was your mother's reasoning behind saying this?

This was her reasoning:

"When we pray, we tend to look at where we prostrate as a sign of humility in front of our Lord. I usually find that closing my eyes helps me concentrate more, and I still pray to God, even though that removes my sight from what I prostrate on (the ground in front of me), and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility."

Interesting.

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

Hmm. I never thought it about it before, but I tend to close my eyes when I pray. (unless I am doing it while I drive or something).

What was your mother's reasoning behind saying this?

This was her reasoning:

"When we pray, we tend to look at where we prostrate as a sign of humility in front of our Lord. I usually find that closing my eyes helps me concentrate more, and I still pray to God, even though that removes my sight from what I prostrate on (the ground in front of me), and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility."

Interesting.

Yes, indeed. That's why I conclude that when it comes to matters like religion and God, one should be humble and teach others what it's like to be a Muslim without shoving Islam down their throats.

Mailech · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601

It is interesting, in Judaism when we say the phrase Shema Yisroel, "Hear Israel, the Lord is our G-d the Lord is One" we cover our eyes so that we can concetrate better.

When I was a little kid, I used to picture an old guy with a beard. When I got older I realized that was idolatrous I stopped that. I usually pray with my eyes open, but sometimes to refocus myself I will close my eyes.

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

Saracen wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: I thought we need a change of mood around here because most of the topics here were mainly less than in-depth about Islam and much about the same "terrorist" trash all over again. So, here goes...

I find that whenever I pray, I tend to close my eyes, and this helps me concentrate. However, my mom advised me not to do this because she said it was wrong. Do you guys have any idea?

Hmm. I never thought it about it before, but I tend to close my eyes when I pray. (unless I am doing it while I drive or something).

What was your mother's reasoning behind saying this?

This was her reasoning:

"When we pray, we tend to look at where we prostrate as a sign of humility in front of our Lord. I usually find that closing my eyes helps me concentrate more, and I still pray to God, even though that removes my sight from what I prostrate on (the ground in front of me), and I don't know if this might be perceived as a sign of arrogance rather than humility."

Interesting.

Yes, indeed. That's why I conclude that when it comes to matters like religion and God, one should be humble and teach others what it's like to be a Muslim without shoving Islam down their throats.

Correct me if I am mistaken, but that doesn't much sound like the statement of a humble person. It sounds like someone with a chip on their shoulder because they think they are better.

Mailech · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601

cap'n queasy wrote: Saracen wrote: Yes, indeed. That's why I conclude that when it comes to matters like religion and God, one should be humble and teach others what it's like to be a Muslim without shoving Islam down their throats.

Correct me if I am mistaken, but that doesn't much sound like the statement of a humble person. It sounds like someone with a chip on their shoulder because they think they are better.

That didn't sound so bad?

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

cap'n queasy wrote: Correct me if I am mistaken, but that doesn't much sound like the statement of a humble person. It sounds like someone with a chip on their shoulder because they think they are better.

You're mistaken. :)

I was simply stating that through my actions, and not my words, I teach others how it's like to be a Muslim: humble, and loyal to God and His Commandments. I don't have to force others to believe what I believe in by preaching incessantly about my religion. My actions are my Da'wah.

Mailech wrote: It is interesting, in Judaism when we say the phrase Shema Yisroel, "Hear Israel, the Lord is our G-d the Lord is One" we cover our eyes so that we can concetrate better.

When I was a little kid, I used to picture an old guy with a beard. When I got older I realized that was idolatrous I stopped that. I usually pray with my eyes open, but sometimes to refocus myself I will close my eyes.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that True Piety is best attained when you worship or pray to God as if you can see Him, or as if He is in front of you.

This is very similar to your case, Mailech, though a man with a beard was the last thing on my mind regarding somewhat creating an image of God in one's mind. :)

But then again, God can't be captured by imagery or vision, because He encompasses all visions. So, it's actually impossible to "imagine" God.

And God knows best. Allahu Akbar. God is Great.

emerald · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 8072 Location: uk

Quote: Correct me if I am mistaken, but that doesn't much sound like the statement of a humble person. It sounds like someone with a chip on their shoulder because they think they are better.

its not like that, all people whatever they beleive think they are ultimately right, otherwise they wouldnt beleive what they do. it doesnt mean anyone is better than the other, but you will always want to be the best example for your faith or belief.

Saracen · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 16443 Location: On Earth

emerald wrote: Quote: Correct me if I am mistaken, but that doesn't much sound like the statement of a humble person. It sounds like someone with a chip on their shoulder because they think they are better.

its not like that, all people whatever they beleive think they are ultimately right, otherwise they wouldnt beleive what they do. it doesnt mean anyone is better than the other, but you will always want to be the best example for your faith or belief.

Exactly.