Not looking at the place of Prostration, nor showing Humility during the salat

“The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) used to incline his head during prayer and fix his isght towards the grond.” [Baihaqi and Hakim]

“While he (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) was in Ka’bah, his sight did not leave the place of his prostration until he came out from it.” [Baihaqi and Hakim]; and he (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It is not fitting that there should be anything in the House (i.e the Ka’bah) which distracts the person praying.” [Abu Dawoud and Ahmad with a saheeh isnad (Irwaa’ 1771)]

These two Ahadith show that the Sunnah is to fix one’s sight on the place of the Prosration on the ground, so the action of some worshippers of closing their eyes during  prayer is misdirected piety, for the best guidance is of Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam).

He (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) used to forbid looking up at the sky and he emphasized this prohibition.

Anas ibn Malik (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said : “What is wrong with those  people who look towards the sky during Salat (Prayer)?” His talk grew stern while diverting this speech and he said: “They should stop [looking towards the sky during the Salat (prayer)]; otherwise their eyes would be snatched away.” [Bukhari :717]

In another Hadith: ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) narrated: I asked Allah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) about looking hither and thither in the Salat (prayer). He (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: “It is a way of stealing by which Shaytan (Satan) takes away (a portion) from the salat (Prayer) of a person.” [Bukhari 1:718]

He (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: “Allah does not cease to turn to a slave in his prayer as long as he is not looking around; when he turns his face away him.” [Abu Dawoud, Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban. Saheeh at-Targhib no. 555]

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) said: “My Khalil (intimate friend) (i.e. the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam)) forbade me from three things: pecking like a hen, squatting like (iqa’aa’) a dog and looking around like a fox.” Ahmad and Abu Ya’laa. Saheeh at-Targheeb no. 556]

He (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) also used to say: “Pray a farewell prayer as if you see Him but if you do not see him, surely He sees you.” [Tabarani, diyaa’ in al-Mukhtaarah, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and Ibn ‘Asaakir]

And he  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Any person who when obligatory prayer is due, excels in its abulution, humility and bowings, will have it as a remission for his previous minor sin, and this (opportunity) is for all times.” [Muslim]

Once the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) prayed in a Khameesh (a woolen garment having marks) and (during the prayer) he looked at its marks. So when he finished the prayer, he said: “Take this Khameesh of mine to Abu Jahm and bring me his Anbijaniyah (i.e. a woolen garment without marks), for it has diverted my attention from the prayer (in one narration:… for I have looked at its marks during the prayer and it almost put me to trial)” [Bukhari, Muslim and Malik, it is given in Irwaa’ (376)]

Also ‘aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) had a cloth with pictures wide spread towards a sahwah (a small room slightly embedded in the ground like a small chamber or cupboard), towards which the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) prayed and then said: “Take it away from me for its pictures did not cease to thwart me in my prayer.” [Bukhari, Muslim and ‘Awanah]

Note: The Messenger  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) did not order the wiping out tearing of pictures