Should recitation pause when someone yawns during prayer?
2026-10-13
F209 · Selected fatwas
Shaykh Ibn Bāz
الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز
Original Q&A · Complete published question and answer
Complete published question and answer, including the programme introduction contained in the question. The three practical instructions and the reason for pausing speech are retained.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
الرسالة الثانية هي رسالة سبق وأن عرضنا بعضا من أسئلتها في حلقة مضت وهي رسالة الأخت (ع. م. الخطيب) من الضفة الغربية بفلسطين، بعثت بهذه الرسالة وضمنتها عددا كبيرا من الأسئلة عرضنا بعضا منها في حلقات مضت، وفي هذه الحلقة تعرض بعض الأسئلة، فتقول في سؤالها الأول: إذا غلب الإنسان التثاؤب في الصلاة، هل يسكت حتى يذهب التثاؤب أم يستمر في الذكر والقرآن؟
الجواب
السنة للمؤمن إذا حصل له التثاؤب أن يكظم ما استطاع، أن يكظم فمه ما استطاع، وأن يضع يده على فيه ولا يقل: هاه ولا يفتح فاه، هكذا نهى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأمر، أمر بوضع اليد على الفم وأن يكظم ما استطاع، وقال: لا يقل: هاه؛ فإن الشيطان يدخل في فيه ولكن يكظم ما استطاع ويضع يده على فيه ولا يتكلم بشيء حتى ينتهي، لا يقرأ ولا يتكلم حتى ينتهي التثاؤب، هذا هو المشروع، إذا حصل التثاؤب يشرع له أمور عدة.
الأمر الأول: أنه يكظم ما استطاع يعني: يضم فمه ما استطاع حسب الطاقة.
الثاني: أنه يضع يده على فيه.
الثالث: أنه لا يقول: هاه، بل يحفظ لسانه ولا يتكلم بشيء لا قليل ولا كثير، هكذا السنة التي جاءت عن النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام، وبذلك يعلم أنه لا يقرأ ولا يحدث أحدا، ولا يتكلم بشيء حتى ينتهي التثاؤب؛ لأنه قد يتكلم بشيء غير مضبوط إذا كان معه التثاؤب، يغلبه التثاؤب فيكون كلامه غير مضبوط، فلا يتكلم حتى ينتهي. نعم.
المقدم: جزاكم الله خيرا.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
The second letter is one from which we presented some questions in an earlier programme. It is from sister ʿ. M. al-Khaṭīb in the West Bank of Palestine. She sent a large number of questions; some were presented in earlier programmes, and others are being presented in this one. In her first question she says: If someone is overcome by yawning during prayer, should he remain silent until the yawn passes, or continue with remembrance and Quran recitation?
Answer
The Sunnah for a believer who yawns is to suppress it as much as he can, keeping his mouth closed as much as possible and placing his hand over it. He should not say ‘Hāh’ or open his mouth. This is what the Prophet ﷺ prohibited and commanded: he commanded putting the hand over the mouth and suppressing the yawn as much as possible. He said not to say ‘Hāh,’ because Satan enters his mouth. Rather, he suppresses it as much as he can, places his hand over his mouth, and says nothing until it ends. He does not recite or speak until the yawn is over. This is what is prescribed. When yawning occurs, several things are prescribed:
First: he suppresses it as much as he can; that is, he closes his mouth to the best of his ability.
Second: he places his hand over his mouth.
Third: he does not say ‘Hāh.’ Rather, he restrains his tongue and says nothing at all. This is the Sunnah reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Thus it is known that he neither recites, converses with anyone, nor says anything until the yawn is over, because while yawning he might say something indistinctly. The yawn overcomes him, so his speech is not properly controlled. He therefore does not speak until it ends. Yes.
Presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source and editorial notes
Official Ibn Bāz website, fatwa 8418
الموقع الرسمي للشيخ عبد العزيز بن باز
Official Ibn Bāz website
Complete published Arabic question and answer checked against the official source, including follow-up exchanges and closing words where present. Arabic diacritics omitted, directional formatting marks removed and honorific glyphs expanded for display. Source footnotes are kept separate.