Replying to One who sneezes

As a right one Muslim enjoys over another, one should reply to the person who sneezes.

Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (رضى الله تعالى عنه) narrates that two people sneezed in the presence of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He replied to one and not the other. The one who did not get the reply of Yar-Hamukullah said: “So and so sneezed and you replied but you did not do so when I sneezed?” The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied: “He said “Alhumdulillah” whilst you failed to say Alhumdulillah.” [Muslim]

One of the etiquettes of sneezing is that the sound should be stilted and the nose covered. This ensures that one’s companion are not annoyed if anything comes out of his nose. In the event of any food or person before him, one should turn his face away and sneeze to prevent the particles that emerge from sneezing from falling onto the food or person before him.

Whenever our beloved Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم sneezed, he would cover his face with his hands or with a piece of cloth, so that the sound of the sneeze could not be heard too loudly. [Tirmidhi]

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (رضى الله تعالى عنه) said: I heard Allah’s messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say, “When one of you sneezes and praises Allah, invoke a blessing on him, but if he does not praise Allah do not invoke a blessing on him.” [Muslim]

Source: The 40 Pathways to Jannah by Sheikh Khalid Sayyid Ali

11 Comments

  • Md. Asadur Rahman

    This is a nice presentation. Will u please send the answer of alhamdulillah ( ‘yar hamakullah’ indeed ) in arabic.

    Regards
    Asad.

  • Ibraheem A. A.

    can u say Alhamdulilahi robi li alaamin?

  • I asked how could I reply in the event of when my fellow Muslim sneezes and I am not sure of what to reply reall. Is it Yar-Hamakullah or what? What I am sure of is that I do nt need tp reply to a muslim who did not praise Allah by saying ”Alhumdulillah” after he/she sneezes.

    Therefore it will be very helpful if you can reply my question of ”What should I reply when my fellow muslim sneezes.

    Thanks

  • Ibraheem A. A

    Thanks Ahmed

  • Haseebullah

    It is Yarhamuk Allah not Yar-Hamakullah! Please do a little research on it and correct the mistake immediately.

  • Tusif

    If one say Alhamdulillah after sneezing, is it Wajib or Sunnah to reply?

  • fatima

    If my baby sneez which prayer will i offer him

    • Ibrar Mustafa

      The sneezing person should have to tell (Alhamdolillah) they small child or a big person any one and then reply to him other person (ya’rahmakullah) after his or her sneez because this is sunnah maukidah, it means compulsary.

  • rubaiyat baca quran

    Good way of telling, and good paragraph to get information about my presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver in school.

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