55/9. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2991a — Praise Allah After Sneezing
Saying: "May Allah Have Mercy On You" To One Who Sneezes, And Yawning Is Disliked
Sneezing Etiquette Hadith: Praise Allah First
Sahih Muslim : 2991a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2991a
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ غِيَاثٍ - عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، التَّيْمِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ عَطَسَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاَنِ فَشَمَّتَ أَحَدَهُمَا وَلَمْ يُشَمِّتِ الآخَرَ فَقَالَ الَّذِي لَمْ يُشَمِّتْهُ عَطَسَ فُلاَنٌ فَشَمَّتَّهُ وَعَطَسْتُ أَنَا فَلَمْ تُشَمِّتْنِي . قَالَ " إِنَّ هَذَا حَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ " .
Anas b. Malik reported that two persons sneezed in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He (the Messenger of Allah) invoked mercy for one, and did not invoke for the other. The one for whom he had not prayed said: So and so sneezed and you said: May Allah have mercy upon you. I also sneezed but you did not utter these words for me. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: That person praised Allah, and you did not praise Allah.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2991aIn-book reference : Book 55, Hadith 69USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 42, Hadith 7125
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2991a
This Hadith explains a simple Sunnah of sneezing etiquette. Two people sneezed in front of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He invoked mercy for one of them but not for the other. When the second person asked why, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) explained that the first person praised Allah, while the second did not. The lesson is direct: when a person sneezes, he should first praise Allah. Then others respond by asking Allah to have mercy on him. This Hadith about sneezing shows that even small daily actions can carry remembrance of Allah and good manners between people.
What we learn from this hadith
- The sneezer should praise Allah after sneezing.
- The response of mercy is connected to praising Allah.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught manners through simple daily moments.
- Small acts of remembrance matter in social behavior.
