Thus, this was a brief yet beneficial exhortation from which Muʿāwiyah himself profited and which he passed on to those after him. The ḥadīth also demonstrates that the worshipper may turn his head or direct his gaze elsewhere when there is a real benefit or need; otherwise, the preferred practice is to keep one’s eyes fixed on the place of prostration. When sitting, however, the gaze should follow one’s pointing finger, for a person seated in the tashahhud or between the two prostrations raises his finger slightly and gestures with it while supplicating, so his eyes should rest on that gesture. During standing and bowing he looks to the place where he will prostrate. Some scholars have said he may instead look straight ahead. The matter is spacious: if he wishes, he may look at the place of prostration, and if he wishes, straight ahead. Should a need arise and he turns, there is no harm in doing so.

The narration further proves that minor movements in the prayer do not invalidate it, for the Companions slapped their thighs with their hands, and the Prophet ﷺ did not reproach them for it—although he ﷺ said in another ḥadīth, “If something unexpected occurs in the prayer, let the men say subḥānallāh, and let the women clap.”