And the second, which is the position of Mālik and al-Shāfi‘ī, is that it does not invalidate prayer. This is the stronger view. Involuntary sneezing and similar occurrences warrant this ruling even more than forgetful speech, since they are ordinary occurrences that a person cannot prevent. It is authentically established that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Yawning is from Satan. When one of you yawns, let him suppress it as much as he can.”

There is also the established report of the man who sneezed during prayer and for whom Mu‘āwiya ibn al-Hakam al-Sulamī invoked Allah’s mercy. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade Mu‘āwiya to speak during prayer, but said nothing to the man who sneezed. To hold that sneezing invalidates prayer is to impose a burden; it is one of the newly introduced views with no basis in what is transmitted from the early generations, may Allah be pleased with them.

It has thus become clear that these throat sounds, which convey no conventionally assigned meaning, are disputed within the schools of Abū Hanīfa, Mālik and Ahmad. The stronger view concerning all of them is that they do not invalidate prayer. Sounds are comparable to movements: just as minor movement does not invalidate prayer, neither does a slight sound. Loud laughter, however, is different, for it is comparable to minor movement, and that is incompatible with prayer. Indeed, loud laughter is even more incompatible with the purpose of prayer. Hence it is never permissible during prayer, unlike extensive movement, which is permitted in cases of necessity. And Allah knows best.