Question: Is the prayer affected if one makes involuntary sounds during the ritual prayer (salah)?
Answer:
Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
The ritual has a fixed form that may not be broken. This form comprises physical movements and words. Therefore, any disturbance to this form contradicts the ritual nature of the prayer.
That said, Allah Most High is merciful and does not ask us to pray like robots. Allah Most High has said, ‘And never did He make any difficulty for you in religion.’ (Qur’an, 22: 78)
Any involuntary actions, such as twitches, or involuntary sounds, such as coughing or even forgetfully saying a few words, are excused. (Minhaj al Talibin, Nawawi; Bushra Karim, Ba Ishn)
I pray this helps.
[Ustadh] Farid
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.