And in the well-known hadith that Abū Razīn narrated from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when the Prophet explained that everyone would be alone with his Lord, Abū Razīn asked him, “How can He accommodate us, O Messenger of Allah, when He is One and we are so many?” He replied:
“I shall tell you of something comparable among Allah’s blessings! This moon is one of Allah’s signs: each of you sees it while alone with it. Allah is greater.”
It is well known that someone who turns towards the moon and addresses it—supposing that he were to address it—can only turn his face towards it, even though it is above him. Thus, he faces it while it is above him. It is impossible according to the innate disposition for him to turn his back on it and address it while directing his intention fully towards it, even though doing so is possible. Only someone whose intention is not to address it would do this. Likewise, someone who does not intend to address a particular person directly turns his face away from him and addresses someone else, so that the first person may hear what is said. When the obstacle is removed, however, he turns directly towards him. Likewise, when a servant stands to pray, he faces his Lord while He is above him. He therefore calls upon Him directly ahead, not to his right or left, and directs his supplication upwards, not downwards, just as if he were addressing the moon.
It is established in the two Sahīh collections that he said:
“People must stop raising their eyes during prayer, or their sight will not return to them.”
The scholars agree that raising one’s eyes towards heaven during prayer is forbidden. Ahmad narrated from Muhammad ibn Sīrīn that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to raise his eyes towards heaven during prayer until Allah Most High revealed:
“Certainly will the believers have succeeded: those who are humbly submissive in their prayer.” [al-Mu’minūn: 1, 2]
Thereafter, his gaze did not go beyond the place of his prostration. This is among the prescriptions of revealed law that perfect the innate disposition; for the supplicant who asks and is commanded to observe humble submission—which is