Is uttering Tasbih (glorification) to notify a fellow worshipper or Imam during prayer permissible?

Chapter on the Two Prostrations of Forgetfulness

Al-Mughni

Book of Prayer

Book 3 · Issue 1 · Bab 7

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Uttering Tasbih to alert someone during prayer, such as correcting the Imam's oversight, signaling one's presence to someone requesting entry, or preventing harm or damage, does not invalidate the prayer according to the majority of scholars, including Al-Awza'i, Al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and Abu Thawr. The evidence for this is the Prophet's saying: Whoever is alerted to something during prayer should say 'Subhan Allah,' as no one hears the Tasbih without turning towards the speaker. In another narration, if a matter arises, men should say 'Subhan Allah' and women should clap. This is general for every matter that befalls the worshipper. Furthermore, there is a report from Ali that when he sought permission from the Prophet while the Prophet was in prayer, the Prophet responded with Tasbih to indicate he was praying.

Supporting text

It is reported from Abu Hanifa that if a person alerts someone other than the Imam using Tasbih, his prayer is invalidated because it constitutes human discourse, falling under the prohibition of speech in prayer. Another view suggests that alerting the Imam by Tasbih is akin to alerting a non-Imam, and if the latter invalidates the prayer, so must the former.