There are ahaadeeth among the saheeh Sunnahs which mention the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) concerning looking at the place of prostration during prayer.
Ibn Hibbaan (4/332) and al-Haakim (1/625) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered the Ka’bah and his gaze did not go beyond the site of his prostration until he came out.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Sifat Salaah al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
With regard to the reports of some of the salaf that were quoted by ‘Abd al-Razaaq al-San’aani in al-Musannaf, these include the following:
1 – It was narrated that Abu Qalaabah said: I asked Muslim ibn Yassaar where should my gaze fall whilst I am praying? He said: If it falls where you prostrate, that is good.
2 – It was narrated that Ibraaheem al-Nakha’i used to like for the worshipper not to let his gaze wander beyond the place of prostration.
3 – It was narrated that Ibn Sireen used to like for a man to focus his gaze on the place of prostration.
Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaaq, 2/163
This is what the scholars of the Standing Committee said is the view of the majority: Abu Haneefah, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad. Some of them made an exception in the case of the tashahhud, when the worshipper should look at his finger. This is a sound exception, supported by reports in the saheeh Sunnah.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Zubayr that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) “sat for the Tashahhud, he would place his left hand on his left thigh and point with his index finger, and would not let his gaze go beyond his finger.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 990; al-Nasaa’i, 1275; classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi in Sharh Muslim. 5/81. He said: The Sunnah is not to let one's gaze go beyond the pointing (finger). There is a saheeh hadeeth concerning this in Sunan Abi Dawood.