, not because the person is speaking. For prayer to be invalidated by something of this kind, it need not constitute speech; mere sound is not speech. It is reported that ‘Alī (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I had two times for visiting the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), by night and by day. Whenever I entered upon him while he was praying, he would clear his throat for me.”

This was narrated by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Mājah, and by al-Nasā’ī with similar wording.

As for the second category—sounds that convey meaning naturally rather than by convention—it includes blowing. Two opinions concerning it are likewise reported from Mālik and Ahmad.

The first is that it does not invalidate prayer. This is the view of Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī, Ibn Sīrīn and other early scholars, as well as Abū Yūsuf and Ishāq. The second is that it invalidates prayer. This is the view of Abū Hanīfah, Muhammad, al-Thawrī and al-Shāfi‘ī. According to this view, blowing invalidates prayer when it produces two distinct letters.

It has also been reported from Ahmad that blowing is treated as speech even if it does not produce two distinct letters.

Those who hold this view cited as evidence the report from Umm Salamah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Whoever blows during prayer has spoken.”

This was narrated by al-Khallāl. However, a report like this is not authentically established as a statement of the Prophet and therefore cannot be relied upon. Ahmad did, however, relate this wording from Ibn ‘Abbās. Another wording reported from him states: “Blowing during prayer is speech.” This was narrated by Sa‘īd in his Sunan.

They also argued that it comprises two letters and is not among the prescribed remembrances of