nor from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with both of them. It was narrated from Ahmad that he said: "I dislike it, but I do not say it breaks the prayer; it is not considered speech." This was also narrated from Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Sirin, al-Nakha'i, Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, and Ishaq. Al-Qadi said: The instance in which Ahmad said it breaks the prayer is when it consists of two letters, because he categorized it as speech, and it cannot be speech with fewer than two letters. The instance in which he said it does not break the prayer is when it does not consist of two letters. Abu Hanifah said: "If it is heard, it is in the category of speech; otherwise, it causes no harm." The correct view is that it does not break the prayer as long as it does not consist of two letters, due to what was narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar, who said: The sun eclipsed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He then mentioned the hadith until he said: "Then he blew in his prostration, and said: 'Uff, uff'." Reported by Abu Dawud.

As for the statement of Abu Hanifah, if he meant what a person does not hear from himself, then that is not considered blowing. And if he meant what others do not hear, that is not valid; because what invalidates the prayer when manifest, also invalidates it when concealed, and what does not, does not—similar to speech.

Section: As for throat-clearing (al-nahnahah), our companions said: If two letters become apparent from it, the prayer is invalidated by it, just like blowing. Al-Marrudhi narrated: "I used to come to Abu Abdullah, and he would clear his throat in his prayer so that I would know he was praying." Muhanna said: "I saw Abu Abdullah clearing his throat in the prayer." Our companions said: This is interpreted as meaning that it did not consist of two letters. The apparent state of Ahmad is that he did not deem that to be a factor, because throat-clearing is not called speech, and there is a need for it in the prayer. It has been narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "I had a time at dawn when I would enter upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). If he was in prayer, he would clear his throat; that was my permission. And if he was not in prayer, he would give me permission." Reported by al-Khallal with his chain of narration. There is a difference of opinion regarding Ahmad concerning the dislike of alerting a person praying by throat-clearing [in his prayer], and he said in