Response to Sneezing

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘You should respond to one’s sneezing even if he is behind the island. In another Hadith it is said, ‘Even if it (response) is from behind the ocean.’”

“Once I was in the presence of al-Rida (a.s.) and he sneezed. I said, ‘May Allah grant you al-Salat (favors).’ He sneezed again, and said, ‘May Allah grant you favors.’ He sneezed again and I said, ‘May Allah grant you favors.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, if one like you (Imam) would sneeze should we say what we say to each other like: “May Allah grant you mercy? Or should we say what I just said, ‘(May Allah grant you al- Salat ’ ?’” The Imam said, ‘Yes, do you not say, “O Lord, grant al- Salat upon Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt, family of Muhammad?”’ I said, ‘Yes, we do.’ The Imam said, ‘Do you not say, “(O Lord,) be merciful to Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt, family of Muhammad?”’ Then the Imam said, ‘Yes, Allah grants al-Salat to him and has been merciful to him. Our saying, “May Allah grant him al-Salat is a blessing for us and a way of our seeking nearness to Allah (thereby).””’

“Once a man sneezed in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and he said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) did not respond and said, ‘Our rights are reduced.’ Then he said, ‘Whenever anyone of you sneezes he should say, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds and Allah has granted al- Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and the AM al-Bay (family of Muhammad).”’ The narrator has said that the man then said it and abu Ja’far (a.s.) responded.’”

“Whenever Abu Ja’ far (a.s.) would sneeze in response it was said, ‘May Allah be kind to you,’ and he would say, ‘May Allah grant you forgiveness and be kind to you. ’ When anyone sneezed in his presence he would say, ‘May Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, grant you forgiveness.’”

“A young boy who had not yet reached puberty once sneezed in the presence of the Holy Prophet and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’ The Holy Prophet said, ‘May Allah place blessings in you.’”

“When a man sneezes he should say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah [Lord of the worlds] who has no partner. ’ In response one should say, ‘May Allah grant you blessings.’ If it is repeated then one should say, ‘May Allah forgive you and forgive us.’ The Messenger of Allah was asked if there was a special verse of the Holy Quran about it or something with a mention of Allah. He said, ‘Anything in which there is a mention of Allah is good.’”

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever upon sneezing says, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, in all conditions, will not suffer from pain in his ears and teeth.”’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When a Muslim person sneezes and remains silent for reasons of illness, the angels say for him, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,” if he would say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds the angels will say, “May Allah forgive you. ’’’’The narrator has said that the Holy Prophet has said, ‘Sneezing in a person suffering illness is an indication of good health and bodily comfort.’”

“If one sneezes, places his hand over his nose and says, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, (all praise belongs to Allah), a great deal of praise, as He deserves, Allah has granted al-Salat (favors) and peace upon Muhammad, His Holy Prophet, and the Ahl al-Bay (family of Muhammad), a small flying thing, smaller than a grasshopper and larger than a fly, will come out of his left nostril until it reaches beneath the Throne and asks for him forgiveness from Allah to the Day of Judgment.’”

“If one sneezes three times, the special expressions for this purpose should be said only up to three times and thereafter should be left alone.”