but rather from his grief at being parted from this deceased person. Thus, if two letters become distinct in his sobbing, his prayer is invalidated. This is the ruling established by the author.

The correct view is that if weeping overwhelms him to the point that he sobs, his prayer is not invalidated, because this is beyond his control—whether it is not out of fear of Allah, as mentioned above, or is out of fear of Allah, that is, the intensity of his fear of Allah, Exalted is He; or out of love for Allah and an intense longing for Him. Weeping may arise from fear of Allah, or from longing for Allah, Exalted is He. Just as the heart may be moved when the reward of the God-fearing is mentioned, causing one to weep out of longing for such bliss, so too, when the disbelievers and their punishment are mentioned, one may weep out of fear of that torment.

“Or if he clears his throat without need and two letters become distinct, it is invalidated.”

His statement, “or if he clears his throat without need and two letters become distinct,” means that his prayer is invalidated.

The need to clear one’s throat may either be personal or relate to another person. If someone feels an obstruction in his throat, he clears his throat in order to remove it; this is a personal need.

Clearing one’s throat for a need relating to another person would be, for example, when someone seeks permission to enter and he wishes to make him aware that he is praying, or something similar. This is a need relating to another person, and the prayer is therefore not invalidated by it. If, however, it is done without need, the prayer is invalidated on the condition that two letters become distinct.

The stronger view is that the prayer is not invalidated by this, even if two letters become distinct, because it is not speech, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, only prohibited speech. Unless, that is, it is done playfully; in that case, the prayer is invalidated, since this is incompatible with prayer and is akin to loud laughter.