that expresses dread of Allah and longing for Him. This is fear of Allah within prayer. Allah praised Abraham as awwāh, a term interpreted as referring to one who sighs out of fear of Allah. Were a person to express that meaning explicitly by seeking refuge from the Fire or asking for Paradise, his prayer would not be invalidated. This differs from groaning and sighing because of illness or affliction: explicitly expressing their meaning would constitute speech that invalidates prayer.

It is reported in the two Sahīhs that Ā’isha said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Abū Bakr is a tender-hearted man; when he recites, he is overcome by weeping.”

He said: “Tell him to lead the prayer. You women are indeed like the women in Joseph’s story.”

Umar’s sobbing could be heard from behind the rows when he recited:

“I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.”

Sobbing means weeping aloud, as explained by Abū Ubayd. This report from Umar is well established and was mentioned by Mālik, Ahmad and others. This disagreement concerns cases in which the person is not overcome involuntarily.

As for sneezing, weeping or yawning that a worshipper cannot control, the correct view according to the majority is that it does not invalidate prayer. This is the explicit position of Ahmad and others. Some of his followers, however, held that it invalidates prayer even though the person is excused, as with someone who speaks out of forgetfulness. Regarding speech uttered out of forgetfulness, two opinions are reported from Ahmad. The first, which is also Abū Hanīfa’s position, is that it invalidates prayer.