a difference of opinion. Here, there was no need for him to say that no prostration is prescribed for a slight amount, because merely not mentioning that prostration is prescribed suffices to negate its prescription. However, since there is a difference of opinion on the matter, he mentioned it.

“And the prayer is not invalidated by a slight amount of eating or drinking done forgetfully; nor is a voluntary prayer invalidated by a slight amount of drinking done deliberately.”

His statement, “is not invalidated,” refers to the prayer, both obligatory and voluntary.

His statement, “by a slight amount of eating or drinking done forgetfully”: an example is a person who forgets while he has some food with him, and begins to eat from it, unaware that he is praying. His prayer is not invalidated, because it is only a slight amount. But if it is extensive—for example, he has bought a kilogram of grapes and hung it around his neck, then forgets and begins eating those grapes until he finishes them—then this is extensive, and his prayer is invalidated by it, even if he acted forgetfully.

It was also said that the prayer is not invalidated if he acted forgetfully, and this is one narration from Imam Ahmad (1).

As for eating or drinking deliberately, the prayer is invalidated by it, whether the amount is slight or extensive. However, the author makes an exception for a slight amount of drinking in a voluntary prayer, as his words indicate.

His statement, “nor is a voluntary prayer invalidated by a slight amount of drinking done deliberately,” means that a voluntary prayer—such as the regular sunnah prayers, the witr prayer, the night prayer, the duha prayer, and the prayer of greeting the mosque—is not invalidated by a slight amount of drinking done deliberately.

Thus, we know that both obligatory and voluntary prayers are invalidated by extensive eating, whether done forgetfully or deliberately, whereas they are not invalidated by a slight amount of eating done forgetfully.