Is it permissible for the Imam to interrupt his recitation during prayer to say "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel" (There is no might or power except with Allah; Allah is sufficient for us, and how excellent a guardian He is) due to a disturbance, citing the action of one of the Imams of the Haram?

The words uttered by the Imam, "Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah)," do not invalidate the prayer because it is a remembrance of Allah, not human speech. The majority of jurists hold that uttering remembrance of Allah during prayer, apart from the prescribed remembrances, is not permissible, citing the hadith "Indeed, there is preoccupation in prayer." However, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah is of the view that any remembrance for which a reason arises during prayer is permissible, citing Abu Bakr's utterance of praise during prayer and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) approval of the sneezer's praise of Allah. Therefore, the prayer of the Imam and the congregants is valid.