the rulings regarding speech. The Qadi said regarding one who yawns and says 'ah, ah': His prayer is invalidated. This is interpreted as referring to one who did so not being overcome by it, due to what we mentioned regarding Ahmad's action to the contrary. The second type is for one to sleep and then speak; Ahmad has refrained from giving an answer regarding this. It is appropriate that his prayer should not be invalidated, because the Pen is lifted from him, and there is no ruling for his speech; for if he were to divorce, acknowledge, or emancipate, the ruling for that would not be binding upon him. The third type is being compelled to speak. It is possible to analogize this to the speech of the forgetful person, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) grouped them together in the pardon by his saying (peace be upon him): 'My nation has been pardoned for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do.' The Qadi said: This is more deserving of pardon, and the prayer is valid, because the act is not attributed to him; for this reason, if one were compelled to destroy property, he would not be liable for it, whereas if he destroyed it while forgetful, he would be liable. The correct view, God willing, is that his prayer is invalidated, because he has performed what invalidates the prayer intentionally, so it is similar to if he were compelled to perform the dawn prayer as four units, or to perform two bowings in every unit. It is not valid to draw an analogy with the forgetful person for two reasons: First, forgetfulness occurs frequently and it is not possible to guard against it, unlike compulsion. Second, if one were to forget and add to the prayer, or forget a prostration from every unit, his prayer would not be invalidated, and such a precedent is not established in cases of compulsion. The fourth division is to speak words that are necessary, such as fearing that a child or a blind person might fall into a disaster, or seeing a snake or similar creature targeting someone who is heedless or asleep, or seeing a fire one fears might ignite something, and the like, when it is impossible to alert them by saying 'Subhan Allah' (glorification). Our companions said: The prayer is invalidated by this. This is the opinion of some of the companions of al-Shafi'i, due to what we mentioned regarding the speech of the one who is compelled. It is possible that the prayer is not invalidated by it, which is the apparent view of Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, for he said regarding the story of Dhu al-Yadayn...