Sufficiency of saying 'Rabbana wa lakal hamd' immediately after sneezing while rising from Ruku' to cover both the rising action and the sneeze.
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The utterance 'Rabbana wa lakal hamd' (Our Lord, and to You is all praise) suffices even if the intention encompasses both the rising from Ruku' and the subsequent sneeze. This utterance is a prescribed remembrance (dhikr) for which explicit specific intention (niyyah) is not required for validity. Since the remembrance was performed, it is sufficient, analogous to saying it absentmindedly while the heart is not fully present. This position is considered correct.
Supporting text
Imam Ahmad narrated that this utterance is not sufficient because the speaker did not restrict the utterance solely for the act of rising from Ruku'. However, this view should be interpreted as stating the preference (Istihbab), not as negating the actual validity (Ijza') of the act.