just as He says of the other group:

“Some faces that Day will be radiant, pleased with their efforts, in a lofty Garden.”

And He, Most High, says:

“And We granted him Isaac, and Jacob as an additional gift, and made each of them righteous. We made them leaders, guiding by Our command, and inspired them to do good deeds, establish prayer, and give zakah. And they were devoted worshippers of Us.”

Since humble devotion in prayer is obligatory and entails stillness and humility, anyone who pecks like a crow has not shown humble devotion in his prostration. Likewise, anyone who does not raise his head from bowing and settle before lowering himself has not attained stillness, for stillness is precisely what is meant by composure. Whoever lacks composure lacks stillness, and whoever lacks stillness has not shown humble devotion in either his bowing or his prostration. Whoever fails to show humble devotion is sinful and disobedient, as we have explained.

Further evidence that humble devotion in prayer is obligatory is that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, threatened those who neglect it, such as someone who raises his gaze towards heaven. Moving and raising his gaze is contrary to the state of one who is humbly devout.

Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“What is the matter with people who raise their eyes during prayer?”

He spoke very sternly about this, then said:

“They must stop doing that, or their sight will surely be snatched away.”

Jābir ibn Samurah reported:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, entered the mosque, where some people were praying with their eyes raised towards heaven. He said: ‘Those men must stop fixing their gaze on heaven, or their sight will not return to them.’”