On the authority of Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If anyone of you sneezes, he should say:
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ
Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) [Sahih al-Bukhari 6224],
In another narration:
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
Alhamdulillahi ‘ala kulli haal (Praise be to Allah in all situations) [Abu Dawood 5033],
In another narration:
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin (Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds),’ [al-Adab al-Mufrad 934]
and his (Muslim) brother or companion should say to him,
يَرْحَمُكَ اللهُ
Yarhamuk-Allah (May Allah bestow his Mercy on you).
When the latter says ‘Yarhamuk-Allah’, the former should say,
يَهْدِيكُمُ اللهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
Yahdikumul-lahu wa Yuslihu baalakum (May Allah give you guidance and improve your condition). [Sahih al-Bukhari 6224]
In another narration (On the authority of Abdullah ibn Masud (رضي الله عنه) who said):
يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لِي وَلَكُمْ
Yaghfiru’Allahu li wa lakum (May Allah forgive me and you). [al-Adab al-Mufrad 934]
In another narration (On the authority of Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) who said):
عَافَانَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ، يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ
’Afanal-lahu wa iyyakum min-naar, yarhamukumu’Allah (May Allah save us and you from the Fire; may Allah have mercy on you). [al-Adab al-Mufrad 929]
In another narration (On the authority of Abdullah Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) who said):
يَرْحَمُنَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ، وَيَغْفِرُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ
Yarhamuna’Allahu wa iyyakum wa yaghfiru lana wa lakum (May Allah have mercy on us and you, may He forgive us and you).” [al-Muwatta (1800), al-Adab al-Mufrad 933]
Texts of the Hadiths:
1) Hadith
حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” إِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ. وَلْيَقُلْ لَهُ أَخُوهُ أَوْ صَاحِبُهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ. فَإِذَا قَالَ لَهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ. فَلْيَقُلْ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira: 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). [Sahih al-Bukhari, 6224]
2) Hadith
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” إِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَلْيَقُلْ أَخُوهُ أَوْ صَاحِبُهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ وَيَقُولُ هُوَ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ ” .
Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: When one of you sneezes, he should say: “Praise be to Allah in every circumstance,” and his brother or his companion should say: “May Allah have mercy on you!” And he should then reply: “May Allah guide you and set right your affairs.” [Sunan Abi Dawud, 5033; Sahih (Al-Albani)]
3) Hadith
“حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: إِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَلْيَقُلْ مَنْ يَرُدُّ: يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ، وَلْيَقُلْ هُوَ: يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لِي وَلَكُمْ.”
‘Abdullah said, “When one of you sneezes, he should say, ‘Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.’ Let anyone responding to him say ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’ Then the person who sneezed should say ‘May Allah forgive me and you.'” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 934; Sahih (Al-Albani)]
4) Hadith
لما نُفِخَ في آدمَ الروحُ مارَتْ وطارتْ، فصارت في رأسِهِ، فعَطِسَ، فقال: الحمدُ للهِ ربِّ العالمينَ، فقال اللهُ: يرحمُكَ اللهُ
Anas (رضي الله عنه) Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “When Allah blew the soul in Adam and the soul reached his head, he (Adam) sneezed and he said: ‘Al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbil ‘Alameen – All praise is due to Allah the Lord of ‘Alameen (mankind, jinn, and all that exists)’. Allah (Ta’ala) then said to him: ‘Yarhamuk-Allah ‘May Allah show mercy to you.’” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3367. Authenticated by Al-Albani in Saheeh Mawaarid Adh-Dham’an no. 1746]
5) Hadith
“حَدَّثَنَا حَامِدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ إِذَا شُمِّتَ: عَافَانَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ، يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.”
Ibn ‘Abbas said, “When someone is wished mercy, he should say, ‘May Allah protect us and you from the Fire. May Allah have mercy on you.'” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 929; Sahih (Al-Albani)]
6) Hadith
“حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا عَطَسَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ: يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ، فَقَالَ: يَرْحَمُنَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ، وَيَغْفِرُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ.”
Nafi’ said that when ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar sneezed, they said to him, “May Allah have mercy on you,” and Ibn ‘Umar said, “May He have mercy on us and you. May He forgive us and you.” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 933; Sahih (Al-Albani)]
Praising Allah while in Salah (Prayer)
If a person sneezes whilst praying, it is prescribed for him to praise Allah (Alhamdu’lillah), whether the prayer is obligatory or naafil, but he should not disturb others by doing so or distract them from their prayer. Also if he sneezes and does not praise Allah, then it does not matter.
ʿAbd Allah b. Ahmad b. Hanbal said: I heard my father say: “If a person sneezes in his salah, they should praise Allah (say: Alhamdulillah) to themselves (quietly) and should not raise (their voice) in the prayer.” [Masa’il al-Imam Ahmad Riwayah ʿAbd Allah 1/102]
That is also supported by the report narrated by Rifa’ah ibn Raafi’ (رضي الله عنه) who said: I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I sneezed and said:
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ مُبَارَكًا عَلَيْهِ كَمَا يُحِبُّ رَبُّنَا وَيَرْضَى
Alhamdu’lillahi, hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih, mubarakan’alaihi, kama yuhibbu Rabbuna wa yarda
All praise is for Allah; praise which is abundant, pure, blessed and perpetual, as our Lord loves and is pleased with.
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had finished praying he said: “Who is the one who spoke during the prayer?” and no one said anything. Then he said it a second time, “Who is the one who spoke during the prayer?” and no one said anything. Then he said it a third time, “Who is the one who spoke during the prayer?” and Rifa’ah ibn Raafi’ said: It was me, O Messenger of Allah. He (ﷺ) said: “What did you say?” He said: I said: Praise be to Allah, much good and blessed praise, as our Lord loves and is pleased with. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, thirty-odd angels competed to see which of them would take it up.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi 404, Abu Dawood and al-Nasa’i 931. Al-Tirmidhi said: a hasan hadeeth. Al-Haafiz narrated in al-Tahdheeb from al-Tirmidhi that it is saheeh. It was also narrated by al-Bukhari in his Saheeh but he did not mention that he said that after sneezing, rather he said it after rising from bowing. It may be that he sneezed whilst rising from bowing and he said that because he sneezed, and the Prophet (ﷺ) approved of that and did not rebuke him for it. [Islamqa]
In summary:
1. It is prescribed to say “Alhamdulillah” (الحمد لله), even when one is in Salah.
2. There should be movement of the lips and the tongue while articulating this phrase.
3. He should say it quietly, audible enough for himself without disturbing others.
4. Others who are praying should not respond to him with Tashmeet (by saying: Yarhamuk-Allah).
5. Saying: “al-Hamdulillah”, is a Dhikr of Allah and is part of the prayer; while responding with Tashmeet is considered as part of people’s speech.
Wishing Mercy (Yarhamuk-Allah) Only For The One Who Praised Allah
Saying Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you) is only prescribed for one who sneezes and praises Allah. If someone sneezes and does not praise Allah, then it is not prescribed to say Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you to him), or to remind him to praise Allah.
On the authority of Anas bin Malik: “Two men sneezed before the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) said to one of them, “May Allah bestow His Mercy on you,” but he did not say that to the other. On being asked (why), the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “That one praised Allah (at the time of sneezing), while the other did not praise Allah.”” [al-Bukhari 6221 & Muslim 2991]
On the authority of Abu Burda who said, “I came to Abu Musa while he was in the house of Umm al-Fadl ibn al-‘Abbas and I sneezed and Abu Musa did not wish mercy on me. Umm al-Fadl sneezed and he wished mercy on her. I told my mother, so when Abu Musa came to her, she confronted him and said, ‘My son sneezed and you did not wish mercy on him. She (Umm al-Fadl) sneezed and you wished mercy on her.’ Abu Musa replied, ‘I heard the Prophet, (ﷺ), say, “When one of you sneezes and praises Allah, you should wish mercy on him, if he does not praise Allah, do not wish mercy on him.” My son sneezed and did not praise Allah, so I did not wish mercy on him. She sneezed and praised Allah, so I wished mercy on her.’ She said, ‘You did well.’” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 941; Sahih (Al-Albani)]
On the authority of Makhul al-Azdi who said, “I was beside Ibn ‘Umar when a man sneezed on one side of the mosque. Ibn ‘Umar said,
يَرْحَمُكَ اللهُ إِنْ كُنْتَ حَمِدْتَ اللَّهَ
Yarhamuk-Allah in kunta hamid-tallaha
‘May Allah have mercy on you if you praised Allah.’”
[Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 936; Mawquf & graded Weak by Al-Albani in Daif Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 149]
On the authority of Muhammad b. Hamid who reported: “A man sneezed in the presence of Ibn al-Mubarak (and did not say “Alhamdulillah”). So Ibn al-Mubarak said to him: “What does one say when he sneezes?” He said, “Alhamdulillah.” So Ibn al-Mubarak said to him: “Yarhamuk-Allah (ie: may Allah have mercy on you).” So the people in attendance were amazed at his good manners.” [al-Khatib al-Bagdadi, Tarikh Bagdad 11/388]
Al-Nawawi (رحمه الله) said:
This is a clear instruction to say “Yarhamuk-Allah” if the one who sneezes praises Allah, and clearly forbids doing so if he does not praise Him. End quote. [Islamqa]
Amongst the Rights of a Muslim To Respond with Yarhamuk-Allah
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (رَضِ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The rights of a Muslim upon another Muslim are six: When you meet him, you should greet him with Salam; when he invites you, accept his invitation; when he asks for your advice, give it to him; when he sneezes and praises Allāh, say ‘may Allah have mercy on you’; when he is ill, visit him; and when he dies follow his funeral.” [Sahih Muslim 2126)]
Also narrated from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: “Allah likes the act of sneezing and dislikes the act of yawning, so if any one of you sneezes and praises Allah (says ‘Alhamdulillah’), it is a duty on every Muslim who hears him to say to him, ‘Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on you).’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari 6223]
Ibn Al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said:
“We have quoted above the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah, in which it says: “if any one of you sneezes and praises Allah (says ‘Alhamdulillah’), it is a duty (Haqq) on every Muslim who hears him to say to him, ‘Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you).”. At-Tirmidhi included the Hadith of Anas under the heading: Chapter on what was narrated about it being obligatory to say Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you) when one who sneezes says Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah). This indicates that it is obligatory in his view, and this is the correct view, because of the Hadiths that clearly indicate that it is obligatory and there was nothing to contradict that, and Allah knows best.
There are four kinds of proof in the Hadith quoted above (“if any one of you sneezes and praises Allah (says ‘Alhamdulillah’), it is a duty (Haqq) on every Muslim who hears him to say to him, ‘Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)”):
1. there is a clear statement that it is obligatory to say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on you), which cannot be interpreted in any other way;
2. it is made obligatory by use of the word Haqq (translated above as duty);
3. it is made obligatory by use of the word ‘Ala (on). This word clearly means that it is obligatory
4. it is enjoined. There can be no doubt that there are many duties that are proven to be obligatory on the basis of less evidence than this. And Allah knows best.” [Hashiyat Ibn Al-Qayyim ‘ala Sunan Abu Dawud, 13/259] [Islamqa]
When a Non-Muslim Sneezes
Abu Musa said, “The Jews used to sneeze in the presence of the Prophet, (ﷺ), hoping that he would say to them, ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’ He used to say to them,
يَهْدِيكُمُ اللهُ، وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
Yahdikumul-lahu wa Yuslihu baalakum
May Allah give you guidance and improve your condition.’”
[Narrated by Abu Dawood 5038, and by al-Tirmidhi 2739, in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 940 Sahih (Al-Albani)]
So if a non-Muslim sneezes and praises Allah, one should not say to him, “Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)”; rather one should say to him: “Yahdikumul-lahu wa Yuslihu baalakum (May Allah give you guidance and improve your condition).”
Sneezing More Than Three Times
From ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If he sneezes, say ‘Yarhamuk Allah’ to him; then if he sneezes , say ‘Yarhamuk Allah’ to him; then if he sneezes, say ‘Yarhamuk Allah’ to him; then if he sneezes, say: ‘You have a cold.” [al-Muwatta 1521]
And it was narrated that Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (رضي الله عنه) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The one who sneezes may be told Yarhamuk-Allah three times; if he sneezes more than that, he has a cold.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah 3714; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah]
Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) was asked:
Is it obligatory to say ‘Yarhamuk-Allah’- ‘may Allāh bestow mercy upon you’- to one who sneezes once, even if the sneezing occurs three times or more?
He answered: ‘If a person sneezes three times, then you say ‘Yarhamuk-Allah’ after each sneeze. However after the third sneeze, you should say to him: ‘Āfāk Allāh’- May Allāh grant you well-being, because this indicates a cold. So you should say, ‘Āfāk Allāh, innaka Mazkūm – May Allāh grant you wellbeing, you have a cold.’ To avoid giving the impression that you are supplicating to Allāh, Exalted be He, to cure him from a sin or wrongdoing he committed. Thus, you say: You have a cold, to inform them that you have asked for their well-being and for them to be cured solely due to their condition of having a cold.” [Liqā’a al-Bāb al-Maftūh, #127 by Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen]
When a Toddler Sneezes
If a person offers supplication (du‘a) for the child, saying whatever is appropriate, such as asking for mercy for him or that he become righteous, and so on, then we hope that there is nothing wrong with that, because the child is not being careless by omitting to praise Allah, and du‘a for such a one is prescribed in general. But it should not be taken as a regular practice.
It is reported from ʿAbd Allah b. Ahmad that al-Hasan (al-Basri) was asked what is said to a little child (ie: toddler) when they sneeze?“
He replied: said: بُورِكَ فِيكَ – “Būrika fīk (ie: may you be blessed).”
[Ibn Muflih, al-Ādāb al-Sharʿiyyah wa ʾl-Minah al-Marʿiyyah 2/343]
The author of an-Nazm said: If a child sneezes he may be prompted to say al-hamdu Lillah. Then it should be said: Yarhamuk Allah or May you be blessed and so on, and he should be taught how to respond. [Islamqa]
Etiquette While Sneezing
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that: “When the Prophet (ﷺ) would sneeze, he would cover his face with his hand or with his garment, and (thereby) muffle the sound by it.” [Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 2745 (Hadith Hasan Sahih)]
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (رحمه الله) said:
“From the manners of the one who sneezes is that he lowers his voice while sneezing and raises it while praising Allah (saying ‘Alhamdulillah’), and that he covers his face lest what comes out of his mouth or his nose should harm his companion. Also, he does not turn his neck to the right or to the left to avoid being harmed by that.” [Fath al-Bari (602/10)]
Allah Likes Sneezing and Dislikes Yawning
On the authority of Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning, so if someone sneezes and then praises Allah, then it is obligatory on every Muslim who heard him, to say: May Allah be merciful to you (Yarhamuk-Allah). But as regards yawning, it is from Satan, so one must try one’s best to stop it, if one says ‘Ha’ when yawning, Satan will laugh at him.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 6223]
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said regarding sneezing:
“… Also, the sneezer was commanded to praise Allah when sneezing because the people of Jahiliyyah used to believe it was a disease. One of them would dislike to sneeze and would love that it had not emanated from him due to what it contains of misfortune [in their belief]. And the one sneezing would try to restrain himself from sneezing and expend effort to withhold from it due to the evil belief of the ignorant people among them with respect to it.
And it is for this reason-and Allah knows best-that they constructed the word [for sneezing] upon the morphological form for disease states, such as al-zukām (cold), al-su’āl (cough), al-duwār (vertigo) and al-suhām (emaciation) and others.
So they were informed [by revelation] that it is not a disease, but it is an affair that Allāh loves. It is a favour from Him that requires from His servant that he praise Him for it. And in the hadith raised to [the Prophet]: “Indeed Allah loves sneezing and dislikes yawning.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 6226]
Sneezing is trapped air that is expelled, opening blockage in the liver [or the interior]. It is a good sign for the ill person, announcing the resolution of part of his illness. In some illnesses that which induces sneezing in the sick person is employed and is used as a type of treatment, to aid it…
And the intent is that harbouring an omen with respect to sneezing is from the action of Jahiliyyah which Islām negated and the Prophet informed that Allah loves sneezing as occurs in Sahih al-Bukhari from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: “Indeed Allah loves sneezing and dislikes yawning. So when one of you yawns, then let him him cover it as much as he is able, for when he opens his mouth and says ‘Ah, Ah’ [the sound of yawning], Shaytan laughs at him.” [Related by al-Bukhari 6226] [Miftah Dar al-Saʿadah (3/356] Further Reading: Ibn al-Qayyim on Sneezing
Sneezing is a Blessing in Disguise
Know that sneezing is a blessing from Allah, so when the sneezer sneezes he should praise and thank Allah the Exalted. Sneezing is the body’s way of removing irritants, which is why you should let it out rather than hold it back. Suppressing it can lead to illness.
Ibn Al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said: “The one who sneezes has received a blessing and a benefit by that sneeze in the expulsion of the congestion in his head which, had it remained there, would have caused him severe illness. It is legislated for him to praise and thank Allah for this blessing, as well as his limbs remaining well and present in the midst of this great shaking which is like as earthquake to the body just as the earthquake is to the earth…for sneezing causes the limbs to move and be disturbed.” [Zaad Al-Ma’aad (2/400)]
Ibn Hubayrah (رحمه الله) said: “Ar-Raazi, may Allah have mercy on him, [Meaning, Abu Bakr, Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Zakariyya Ar-Raazi, a famous physician] said: ‘Sneezing never occurs at the beginning of sickness, ever, unless a person has a common cold or congestion.’” Ibn Hubayrah, may Allah have mercy on him, continues: “So, if the person sneezes, it is evidence that their body is healthy, has good digestion and good strength. So, for that, one must thank Allah the Exalted.” [Al-Aadaab Ash-Shar`iyyah (2/334)]
Do not say “Ab” or “Ash”
Mujahid said, “When a son of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, either Abu Bakr or ‘Umar, sneezed, he said, ‘Ab!’ Ibn ‘Umar said, ‘What is this “Ab”? (Then added) Ab is the name of one of the shaytans who comes between the sneeze and the praise.’” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 937; Sahih (Al-Albani), also see Mussanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah Volume 14, p. 319, in the tahqiq of Sheikh Sa’d ash-Shithri]
He meant to say that the devil prompt the sneezer to take this name before saying Alhamdulillah.
Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) had many sons one of whose name was Umar, and he had a grandson by the name of Abu Bakr (Tahzeeb al-Tahzeeb v-5, P-328). This account is of one of them that when he sneezed he said Ab, or Aash. Ibn Umar was displeased at that and said to him that it was the name of the devil. This Hadith is also reproduced by Mussanaf Ibn Abu Shaybah but instead of the word Ab. it has the word Aash and this seems more appropriate because when a man sneezes there is an involuntary sound at the end of which is heard.
Nevertheless, the words Ab and Aash are both wrong and must be avoided. Immediately on sneezing a man must say Alhamdu’lillah, so that the devil has no opportunity to be happy and there is a display of urgency in calling the name of Allah. [Commentary of Adab al-Mufrad by Maulana Khalid Khan Garhi by Dar al-Kotob al-ilmiyah Publishers, Beirut]
Neither Add nor Detract from the Sunnah, even when it comes to Sneezing
Hadrami, the freed slave of the family of al-Jaarood narrated from Naafi’ that: “A man sneezed beside Ibn ‘Umar and said, ‘Alhamdulillah was-salamu ‘ala rasulillah (All praise is due to Allah, and peace upon the Messenger of Allah)’. So Ibn ‘Umar said, ‘I too could say Alhamdulillah was-salamu ‘ala rasulillah, but this is not what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us. He taught us to say, “Alhamdu’lillah ‘ala kulli haal (All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance).’” [al-Tirmidhi 2738, hasan]
Imam al-Mubarakfoori, in his commentary on Jaami’ al-Tirmidhi, wrote the following concerning this hadeeth:
His statement, “A man sneezed beside Ibn ‘Umar” – meaning he was at the edge of the sitting, to his side, “So he said” – meaning the one who sneezed – “Alhamdu’lillah was-salamu ‘ala rasulillah.” It is likely that he was ignorant of the Shari’ ruling, or that he thought that it was commendable to add the blessing upon the prophet since it is one of the beautiful adhkar. “So he said” – meaning – “Ibn ‘Umar, ‘And I too (could) say” – what you said, “Alhamdu’lillah was-salamu ‘ala rasulillah” because these are two noble pieces of dhikr, both of which we have been commanded to say. However, for every situation there is an appropriate word, and this is the meaning of his statement, “but this is not what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us” i.e. including the salaam with the alhamdulillaah when one sneezes. Rather, the correct course is to follow the command with neither increase nor decrease from the command itself, except in cases of clear and informed qiyaas. “He taught us to say, ‘Alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli haal’” so any addition which is sought is only that which is related to praising Allah, whether that has been narrated or not. And as for adding another dhikr by including it with this one, then that is not an approved, because whoever hears it, perhaps they would think that it is a commanded phrase (i.e. a part of the legislated worship).
And in the hadith, there is that the one who sneezes should say, “alhamdulillaah ‘alaa kulli hal“. And al-Tabarani records a hadith from Abu Maalik al-Ash’ari from the Prophet (ﷺ) that, “Whenever one of you sneezes, then let him say, ‘Alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli haal‘.” And something similar was reported by Abu Dawud in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, and from al-Nasa’i in the hadith of ‘Ali from the Prophet (ﷺ): “Whenever one of you sneezes, then let him say, ‘Alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli haal‘, or ‘Alhamdulillah Rabbil-‘Alamin’,” and a group of the people of ‘ilm have brought that.
And another group has said that there should be no addition to “alhamdulillaah” as is in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah in Saheeh al-Bukhari: “Whenever one of you sneezes, let him say, ‘Alhamdu’lillah‘.” And another group say, “alhamdulillaah rabb al-‘aalameen.” And that is narrated in a hadith of Ibn Mas’ood; al-Bukhari reported it in Adab al-Mufrad and by al-Tabarani which reported it in a way with combined both wordings. As for the one in Adab al-Mufrad 926, ‘Ali said, “When someone hears a sneeze and says, ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, in every situation,’ he will never get a toothache or earache.” And that narration is mawqoof (i.e. it’s chain of narration ends before reaching the Prophet), and it’s narrators are reliable. And something like that could not be said by virtue of one’s own opinion, so it takes the ruling of being from the Prophet (ﷺ).
Al-Haafidh (ibn Hajar) said in al-Fath after mentioning all this, “And ibn Battaal narrated from al-Tabarani: The one who sneezes can choose between saying ‘Alhamdu’lillah‘, or adding ‘rabb al-‘aalameen’, or ‘‘alaa kulli haal‘. And that which is free from the evidence, then all of it is permissible, however what has more praise is more virtuous, so long as it can be traced back to a narration.
And al-Nawawi said in al-Adhkaar, “The ‘ulamaa’ agree that it is desirable for the one who sneezes to say immediately following his sneeze, ‘Alhamdulillah‘, and if he were to say, ‘Alhamdulillah Rabbil-‘Alamin‘, then that would be better. And if he were to say ‘Alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli haal‘, then that is the most virtuous.” That is what he said. [Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 4429]
Precious Gems from the Quran and Sunnah 