When performing salah, there are a few possible places where ones gaze could be:
1.Towards the sky: However many ahadith clearly prevent this practice, to such an extent that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) has warned those who do so that there is a great possibility of their sight being snatched away.
(Abu Dawud 888, Sahih Muslim 428, Bukhari 750)
2.Turning towards the right and left: Many ahadith also prevent this practice. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) has mentioned that Allah pays attention to the salah of a person, however as soon as he starts looking to the right and left, Allah Ta'ala turns away. (Abu Dawud 886, Nasai 1195)
Another Hadith mentions that shaitaan using this looking around in salah as a means to distract a person from his salah.
(Abu Dawud 887. Bukhari 751)
3.Looking straight ahead: While this is permissible it is contrary to the sunnah of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) and there is also a large possibility that one would be easily distracted.
4.Looking down: ie. At the place of sajda when standing, at the feet when in ruku, at the nose in sajda and at in the lap when sitting-
This has been mentioned in numerous ahadith and is backed up the statements and practice of the Sahabah and the Tabieen. It is the preferred view of Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafi'i and Imam Ahmed Rahimahumullah.
Some of the ahadith showing this are:
1)
عن محمد قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى رفع رأسه إلى السماء تدور عيناه ينظر ها هنا وها هنا فأنزل الله عز وجل قد أفلح المؤمنون الذين هم في صلاتهم خاشعون فطأطأ رأسه ونكس في الأرض
Muhammad ibn Sirin Rahimahullah mentions: Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would lift his gaze towards the sky when in sky, until the verse "Certainly those believers are successful, who are humble in their salah" was revealed. Thereafter Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would bow his head.
Bayhaqi Vol.2 Pg.283, Haakim Vol.2 Pg.426 ,Tafsir at-Tabari Vol.18 Pg.2.
Haakim and Dhahabi have classified it as Mursal Sahih
2)
أبا قلابة الجرمي يقول حدثني عشرة من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في قيامة وركوعه وسجوده بنحو من صلاة أمير المؤمنين يعني عمر بن عبد العزيز رضي الله عنه قال سليمان فرمقت عمر في صلاته فكان بصره إلى موضع سجوده
Abu Qilabah narrates that ten Sahabah narrated to me the manner of the salah of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) and it was identical to the salah of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz and Umar ibn Abdul Aziz would keep his gaze at the place of Sajdah when in salah.
Bayhaqi Vol.2 Pg.283
3)
عن أنس بن مالك قال قلت يا رسول الله أين أضع بصري في الصلاة قال عند موضع سجودك
Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) says he asked Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam):" Where should I keep my gaze when in salah?" Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) replied: "At the place of Sajdah."
يا أنس اجعل بصرك حيث تسجد
Another narration mentions that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) said to Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu): "O Anas, keep your gaze at the place of sajdah!"
Bayhaqi Vol.2 Pg.284, Dailami 3874, Ibn Adi Vol.3 Pg.131
Azizee has mentioned that this hadith is hasan lighairihi (strong on account of being backed by other narrations). I'laus Sunan Vol. 2 Pg.177-Ilmiyyah
4)
عن عبد الله بن عمر أنه رأى رجلا يحرك الحصا بيده وهو في الصلاة فلما انصرف قال له عبد الله لا تحرك الحصا وأنت في الصلاة فإن ذلك من الشيطان ولكن اصنع كما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصنع قال فوضع يده اليمنى على فخذه وأشار بأصبعه التي تلي الإبهام إلى القبلة ورمى ببصره إليها أو نحوها ثم قال هكذا رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصنع
Abdullah ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that when Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would lift his finger in tashahud, his gaze would be on the finger.
Sahih ibn Hibban Vol.5 Pg.273, Sahih ibn Khuzaimah Vol.1 Pg.355 Nasai 1160
5)
عن عامر بن عبد الله بن الزبير عن أبيه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا تشهد وضع يده اليسرى على فخذه اليسرى ووضع يده اليمنى على فخذه اليمنى وأشار بأصبعه السبابة لا يجاوز بصره إشارته
Abdullah ibn Zubayr (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that when Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would lift his finger in tashahud, his gaze would not go further than his finger.
Sahih ibn Hibban Vol.5 Pg.273, Sahih ibn Khuzaimah Vol.1 Pg.355, Abu Dawud 961
6)
عن أبي أمامة وواثلة قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قام في الصلاة لم يلتفت يمينا ولا شمالا ورمى ببصره موضع سجوده
Hadhrat Wathilah and Abu Umamah (Radhiallahu Anhuma) both narrate that when Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would stand in salah he would keep his gaze on the place of sajdah.
Ibn Adi Vol.2 Pg.272, Uqaili Vol.1 Pg.255
7)
عن بن عباس قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قام إلى الصلاة لم ينظر إلا موضع سجوده
Ibn Abbas (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that when Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would stand in salah he would no look anywhere except at the place of sajdah.
Ibn Adi Vol.5 Pg.183
8)
أن النبي كان إذا افتتح الصلاة لم ينظر إلا إلى موضع سجوده
Abdullah ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) mentions that when Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihu Wasallam) would start salah he would not look anywhere except towards the place of sajdah.
Atraaful Gharaaib wal Afraad Vol.3 Pg.369
9)
عن ابن سيرين قال كانوا يستحبون أن ينظر الرجل في صلاته إلى موضوع سجوده
Ibn Sirin (Rahimahullah) mentions that the Sahabah (Radhiallahu Anhum) would prefer that when in salah a person looks towards the place of sajdah.
Ta'zeemu Qadris Salah Pg.192
10)
عن أبى قلابة قال سألت مسلم بن يسار أين منتهى النظر في الصلاة قال موضع السجود حسن
Abu Qilabah (Rahimahullah)says that he asked Muslim ibn Yasar (Rahimahullah) concerning where should the gaze be when in salah. He replied that it would be good to keep it at the place of sajdah
Ta'zeemu Qadris Salah Pg.192
11)
وقال شريك القاضي ينظر في القيام إلى موضع السجود وفي الركوع إلى موضع قدميه وفي السجود إلى أنفه وفي قعوده إلى حجره
Sharik (Rahimahullah) mentions: A person should keep his gaze in qiyam towards the place of sajdah, in Ruku towards his feet, in sajdah towards his nose and in qa'dah towards his lap.
At-Tamheed Vol.17 Pg.393
12)
عن محمد قال كانوا يقولون لا يجاوز بصره مصلاه فإن كان قد استعاد النظر فليغمض
Muhammad ibn Sirin (Rahimahullah) mentions that the Sahabah (Radhiallahu Anhum) would say: A persons gaze should not go further than his musalla. If he is so used to looking around that he cannot look down, then he should rather close his eyes.
Ta'zeemu Qadris Salah Pg.191
Hafiz ibn Hajr has classified all the narrators as reliable.
Fathul Bari Vol.2 Pg.232
13)
Awam mentions that Ibrahim Nakha'i (Rahimahullah) would prefer that the gaze of a musalli does not go past his place of sajdah.
Ibn Abi Shaibah Vol.2 Pg.64
13)
فكان محمد بن سيرين يحب أن لا يجاوز بصره مصلاه
Ibn Sirin (Rahimahullah) would also prefer that the gaze of a musalli does not go past his musalla.
Bayhaqi Vol.2 Pg.283
Thus we find that the statements of our Fuqaha concerning where to keep the gaze, are based on numerous narrations and not something from their own side.
It is also much easier to concentrate in salah if one keeps his gaze where they have mentioned it to be kept.
Wallahu A'lam
Mufti Husain Kadodia