Killing a snake with more than one blow

Question

What is the ruling on killing a snake during the prayer when there is a strong fear of harm from it — even if the implement for striking is brought from outside the mosque, or while remaining in the mosque one turns away from the qibla, or it is killed with three blows, or one has to walk two or three steps? Will the prayer be invalidated by this or not?

Answer

This act is neither prohibited nor makruh; however, through excessive action (‘amal kathir) the prayer will become fasid (invalid) — this is the correct view. [ar]قَالَ السَّرَخْسِيُّ: إِنَّهَا لَا تَفْسُدُ بِقَتْلِهَا وَلَوْ بِعَمَلٍ كَثِيرٍ وَلَوْ بِانْحِرَافٍ عَنِ الْقِبْلَةِ، وَصح الْحَلَبِيُّ الْفَسَادَ، وَهُوَ مَا عَلَيْهِ عَامَّةُ شُرُوحِ الْجَامِعِ الصَّغِيرِ…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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