Etiquettes of Sneezing

Abu Burda (radiAllahu’anhu) reported: I visited Abu Musa (radiAllahu’anhu), as he was in the house of the daughter of Fadl b. 'Abbas (radiAllahu’anha). I sneezed but he did not respond to it (by saying): Allah may have mercy upon you (yarhamak Allah). Then she sneezed and he (Fadl b. 'Abbas) said: May Allah have mercy upon you (yarhamak Allah). I came back to my mother and informed her about it, and when he came to her she said: My son sneezed in your presence and you did not say:" Allah may have mercy upon you, and she sneezed and you said for her:" May Allah have mercy upon you." Thereupon he said: Your son sneezed but he did not praise Allah (by saying Alhamdulillah) and I did not beg mercy of Allah for him and she sneezed and she praised Allah and so I said: May Allah have mercy upon you, as I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When any one of you sneezes he should praise Allah and the other should say: May Allah have mercy upon you (yarhamak Allah), and if he does not praise Allah, no mercy should be begged for him. [Sahih Muslim 2992, Book 55, Hadith 71]

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We should make sure we know the etiquettes of small things that we face daily. Be it what to say when sneezing and how to respond to the one who sneezes, or duas for entering and exiting the toilet, waking up or going to sleep, there is so much guidance for each act. The more you look into these etiquettes, the more you will be inspired and blessed as you remember Allah at all times.

When a person sneezes, they should say, ‘Alhamdulillah’ (all praise is for Allah)

The one who hears them sneeze should say, ‘Yahamak Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)