Is looking at distracting objects or reading a book during prayer disliked?
Chapter on what invalidates the prayer if omitted intentionally or forgetfully
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is disliked to look at anything that distracts or to look into a book during prayer. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed in a garment with patterned designs and said, 'These patterns distracted me from my prayer. Send them to Abu Jahm ibn Hudhayfah and bring me my plain cloth' (narrated by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud). He also instructed Aisha to remove a curtain because its images kept appearing before him in the prayer (narrated by Al-Bukhari).