I am in habit of closing my eyes when I pray, because this helps me concentrate better on my prayers. However, I was told that this is discouraged by the Prophet as it was a practice by the Jews. Is it correct?
It is true that closing one's eyes during prayer is discouraged. The reason for that, however, is not that you have been told of as the need of Muslims to do everything different what the Jews do. There is more down-to-earth reason for that. It is simply the need of the worshipper to be aware of what may take place or may come across close to him when he is engaged in prayer. If a person is offering his prayer in a field or in an open place and a dangerous insect approaches[even non-dangerous insect is undesirable], he will not notice it if he is praying with his eyes closed. Perhaps you are aware that it is permissible for a person engaged in prayer to kill a snake or a scorpion if it comes near him, without interrupting his prayer, regardless of what movement he may have to make in so doing. If he were to pray with his eyes closed, he may be bitten or stung by any such creature without being able to defend himself. It is for the same reason that offering prayer at night in an unlit room is also discouraged.
[Added: In surah Al-Falaq (Day break), we seek protection of Allah "from the evils of darkness when it is intense."(113:3) Praying in darkness is, therefore, seriously discouraged.] However, if one is sure of his safety [Added: but how can anyone be, when an act has been discouraged] and he finds that it helps him concentrate on prayer to close his eyes, he may do so. We are strongly recommended, however, not to be in the habit of closing our eyes while praying.
• Prayers: With hope that wishes are fulfilled
We wonder at times whether our prayers will ever be answered. We may face a problem, endure an illness, contend with difficulty or suffer an injustice. We take whatever measures available to us to overcome the problem, correct the injustice or get proper medical treatment. But that may not be sufficient. We realize that we need help which often cannot be given by any human being. That help could come only from Allah. Hence, we turn to Him with our supplication, hoping that our wishes are soon fulfilled. At times, we experience the fulfillment of our prayers coming straight-away. Often we feel it slow-coming. This makes us wonder whether Allah has accepted our prayer and will grant us what we have requested of Him. Hence the question is asked: What is the factor which guarantees that prayers are answered?
There is a simple formula. A person who puts a request to Allah should first of all be sincere in his attitude. He should purify himself physically and mentally which means that he should repent of his sins. It is unthinkable that a person indulges in sin and at the same time requests Allah to grant his wishes, some of which are purely materialistic. He simply does not show any regrets that he has exceeded the limits set by Allah. How does such a person expect Allah will answer his prayers, when he does not expect the same treatment by his fellow human beings. If he has offended someone, he knows that he cannot ask that person a favor. Yet, he expects favors from Allah when he persists in offending Him! The first pre-requisite for answering our supplication by Allah is repentance and seeking Allah's forgiveness. This repentance should be sincere, not a mere verbal statement which we repeat like parrots without putting any thought into it.
The second requirement is that one should not be hasty. We should not precipitate Allah's actions. He answers our prayers in His own good time, but always in the way and at the time which is best for us. Indeed, we must not entertain any thought that our prayers may not be answered. Abu Hurairah quotes Allah's Messenger as saying: "The supplication of any one of you is answered as long as he is not hasty, saying: I have prayed Allah and my prayers were not answered." (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others).
In this Hadith the Prophet advises us against giving up or thinking that our prayers may remain unanswered. A person may get disenchanted and stop praying Allah. If he does this, his attitude is interpreted as one who considers his supplication as a favor or he may imply that he has done enough supplication to warrant being answered. This suggests, by inference, that he considers Allah's favors unforthcoming, while he should realize that Allah can answer any supplication and can easily grant every single one of His servants all that he or she asks for.
I saw some people, sportsmen and soldiers, offering their prayers in mosque without taking off their shoes. Is it permissible?
Yes, it is. The only condition is that which applies to whatever we wear when we pray, namely, that it has not been contaminated with impurity. This means that if you are certain that you have not stepped over an impurity, you may offer your prayers wearing your shoes.
The other point of importance when you do this in a mosque is to make sure that you do not bring any dirt into the mosque. You have to maintain the mosque clean.