In English, when you hear someone sneeze in a distance (Achoo!) you will respond by saying, “(God) Bless You” immediately. However, when Muslims sneeze, our Prophet (ﷺ) taught us a more connected method that involves the remembrance of Allah and giving Dua after Sneezing to one another.
A sneeze is a blessing in that it rids your body of the thousands of germs that would still be in your head, lungs, and body. They could easily make you sick and cause you lots of bodily pain. A good sneeze gets rid of germs and brings immense relief. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning…” [Sahih al-Bukhari 6223]
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Ettiqite of sneezing
1st if you feel you going to sneeze you should cover your face when you sneeze for proper etiquette.
Narrated Abu Hurairah: “That when the Prophet (PBUH) would sneeze, he would cover his face with his hand or with his garment, and muffle the sound with it.”
[Jami`At-Tirmidhi ]
Dua after Sneezing
Immediately after Muslims sneeze, The Prophet (ﷺ) taught us that the one who sneezed should say
الحمد لله
‘Praise be to Allah’.
Related:
When Muslims sneeze, they will verbalize the words Alhamdulillah, or ‘Thanks Be To Allah’. The physical act of sneezing causes the entire body to shudder and possibly for the heart to slow down. For this act of sneezing, we give thanks to Allah (SWT).
Reply after hearing Alhamdulillah from who Sneezed
It is obligatory for every Muslim who heard a person who sneezed saying “Alhamdulillah ” before you reply with:
Yar Hamakum Allah
يرحمكم الله
‘May God Forgive or Bless You.’
Two men sneezed in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he replied YarhamukAllah to one and not to the other. It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), two men sneezed in your presence and you replied to one and not to the other?’
He said: “This one praised Allah (said Al-Hamdulillah after sneezing) but that one did not.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah].
Responding to who replied to you
Finally, the sneezer should respond with
Yahdeekum Allah Wa Yuslihu Baalakum’
(يهديكم الله ويصلح بالكم)
‘May Allah guide you and rectify your situation.’ to whom said “Yar Hamakum Allah”
Hadith Source for dua after sneezing
The Full Hadith says The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ” If anyone of you sneezes, he should say ‘Al-Hamduli l-lah‘ (Praise be to Allah), and his (Muslim) brother or companion should say to him, ‘Yar-hamuka-l-lah‘ (May Allah bestow his Mercy on you). When the latter says ‘Yar-hamuka-llah”, the former should say, ‘Yahdikumul-lah wa Yuslih balakum‘ (May Allah give you guidance and improve your condition).
