Manners of Sneezing and Yawning

Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sneezed: First: He would put his hand or garment over his mouth so that nothing would come out of his mouth or nose and hurt those around him. Second: He would lower his voice and not raise it.

1. Demonstrating the Prophet's guidance concerning sneezing and following his example in that.
2. It is recommended to put a garment, tissue paper, or the like over one's mouth and nose when sneezing lest something should come out and hurt those around him.
3. Lowering the voice while sneezing is required and is a sign of perfect manners and noble morals.

سنن أبي داود (7/ 375) (5029). سنن الترمذي (4/ 461) (2745). مسند أحمد (15/ 412) 9662). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (4/ 440). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص528). بهجة الناظرين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 149). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 678). كنوز رياض الصالحين لمجموعة من الباحثين (11/ 432).

The Hadīth shows that a Muslim should praise Allah, the Exalted, when he sneezes because the sneezer got a great benefit from sneezing. Sneezing releases the condensed air in one's head which otherwise would have caused serious diseases. Therefore, praising Allah is prescribed for this blessing. Further, anyone who hears someone praising Allah after sneezing should say: ‘yarhamuk Allah’ (may Allah have mercy on you). Then the sneezer should reply: ‘yahdīkum Allah wa yuslih bālakum’ (may Allah guide you and grant you well being). Thus, sneezing benefits both the sneezer and the one who heard him, and this reflects one of the great bounties granted by this religion to the people.

- صحيح البخاري، للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - شرح رياض الصالحين، للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. - رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي - الطبعة الأولى، 1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة - بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. - تطريز رياض الصالحين، تأليف فيصل آل مبارك، تحقيق د. عبد العزيز آل حمد، دار العاصمة، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1423هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentions some of the rights Muslims have toward one another. The first among these rights is to return the greeting of peace to the one who greets you. The second right is to visit the sick. The third right is to follow the funeral procession from the deceased person's home to the praying place and the cemetery until he is buried. The fourth right is to accept the invitation of someone who invites you to a wedding banquet and the like. The fifth right is to say tashmīt to a person who sneezes and praises Allah. Tashmīt is to say: yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you). In response, the sneezing person should say: yahdīkum Allah wa yuslih bālakum (may Allah guide you and amend your condition).

1. It shows the greatness of Allah, as it stresses the rights to be observed among Muslims and strengthens the brotherliness and love between them.

صحيح البخاري (2/ 71) (1240). صحيح مسلم (4/ 1704) (2162). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (4/ 512). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 327). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 253). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (2/ 591). بهجة قلوب الأبرار، لابن سعدي (ص81).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) instructed anyone who yawns, opening his mouth due to laziness, fullness, or similar reasons, to place his hand over his mouth to close it. This is because the devil enters if the mouth is left open, and placing the hand prevents him from entering.

1. If a person feels the urge to yawn, he should suppress it as much as possible by keeping his mouth closed. If he is unable to keep his mouth closed, he should put his hand over his mouth to cover it with his hand.
2. Adherence to the etiquettes of Islam in all situations because they are the epitome of perfection and morals.
3. Caution against all the devil's access points to man.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2293) (2995). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 151). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (4/ 436). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص529). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 679).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that a Muslim owes his fellow Muslim six things: First: To greet him with peace upon meeting him by saying: Peace be upon you, and he should return the greeting by saying: And may peace be upon you. Second: To accept his invitation when he invites you to a banquet or any other occasion. Third: To give him advice when he asks for it without flattering or cheating him. Fourth: When he sneezes and says: Alhamdu lillah (praise be to Allah), say Tashmīt to him by saying: Yarhamuka Allah (may Allah have mercy upon you); and he should reply by saying: Yahdīkum Allah was yuslih bālakum (may Allah guide you and set your affairs right). Fifth: To visit him and check on him when he is sick. Sixth: To pray over him when he dies and follow his funeral until he is buried.

1. Ash-Shawkāni said: What is meant by (The Muslim's right) is that it should not be neglected, and fulfilling it is either obligatory or firmly recommended in such a way that makes it similar to the obligation that must not be neglected.
2. Responding to a greeting of peace is an individual obligation if the greeting is directed at a single person, and if directed at a group, it suffices if one of them responds. As for initiating the greeting of peace, it is basically an act of Sunnah.
3. One of the Muslim’s rights over his fellow Muslims is to visit him when he is sick, as it brings joy and comfort to his heart and is considered a communal obligation.
4. It is obligatory to respond to an invitation unless it involves a sin. If the invitation is to a wedding banquet, the majority hold that it is obligatory to respond unless there is a valid excuse under the Shariah. However, if the invitation is for something other than a wedding banquet, the majority consider it recommended.
5. Saying Tashmīt to the sneezer is obligatory upon whoever hears him praising Allah.
6. The perfection of the Shariah and its emphasis on strengthening the bonds of society and faith, as well as the ties of love among its members.
7. (Say Tasmīt to him) and in some versions "Tashmīt" with "s" and with "sh": a supplication for goodness and blessing. It was said that "Tashmīt" means: May Allah keep you away from gloating and protect you from what may cause your enemy to rejoice over you. "Tasmīt" means: may Allah guide you to the straight path.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 1705) (2162). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 7). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للبسام (3/ 128). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 327).