Saying “Al-Hamdu Lillāh” (Praise is due to Allāh) after sneezing, being replied “Yarhamuk Allāh”, then replying “Yahdeekum Ullah wa Yuslihu Bālakum”.
Abu Hurayrah (ABPWH) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “If one of you sneezes, he should say ‘Al-Hamdu Lillāh’ (i.e. Praise is due to Allāh), and his brother or companion should say to him ‘Yarhamuk Allāh’ (i.e. May Allāh bestow His Mercy on you). When the latter says ‘Yarhamuk Allāh,’ the former should say ‘Yahdeekum Ullah wa Yuslihu Bālakum’ (i.e. May Allāh give you guidance and grant you well-being).” (Al-Bukhāriy no. 6224)
It is also Sunnah to change the wording occasionally, saying “Al-Hamdu Lillāhi ‘Ala Kulli Hāl” (i.e. Praise be to Allāh in all circumstances).
This is indicated by the Hadeeth narrated by Abi Dāwood, in which the Prophet (PBUH) said, “If one of you sneezes, he should say, ‘Al-Hamdu Lillāh ‘Ala Kulli Hāl’ (i.e. Praise be to Allāh in all cirumstances).” (Abū Dāwood no. 5031)
Any one who hears the one who sneezed saying “Al-Hamdu Lillāh” should reply, “Yarhamuka Allāh” (i.e. May Allāh bestow His Mercy on you), and it is Sunnah for the one who sneezed to reply to that saying, “Yahdeekum Ullah wa Yuslihu Bālakum” (i.e. May Allāh give you guidance and grant you well-being).
One who sneezes is not to be replied “Yarhamuk Allāh” except if he says “Al-Hamdu Lillāh”.
Anass (ABPWH) said, “Two men sneezed in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH) , and the Prophet (PBUH) answered one of them ‘Yarhamuk Allāh,’ and did not answer the other one. The latter said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh, you replied to him “Yarhamuka Allāh,” but you did not reply to me.’ The Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘He praised Allāh, and you did not praise Allāh.’.” (Al-Bukhāriy no. 6225)
In another Hadeeth, Abu Moussa Al-Ash‘ariy (ABPWH) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) say, “If one of you sneezes and then praises Allāh, respond to him with Tashmeet, and if he does not praise Allāh then do not respond to him with Tashmeet.” (Muslim no. 2992)
Tashmeet is replying to one who sneezes by saying, “Yarhamuka Allāh” (i.e. May Allāh have mercy on you).
If however it is a matter of education, such as a father educating his son or a teacher educating his students, then the father or teacher can ask the child who sneezed to say “Al-Hamdu Lillāh”, in order to educate him, as it might be that the child does not know this Sunnah.
Moreover, if someone has a cold and sneezes more than three times, then he should be answered “Yarhamuk Allāh” three times, but after the third time he should not be answered “Yarhamuk Allāh”.
This is indicated in the Hadeeth of Abi Hurayrah (ABPWH) who narrated the the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Answer your brother who sneezes, ‘Yarhamuk Allāh’ (i.e. May Allāh have mercy on you), three times. If however he sneezes more than than three times, then he has a cold.” (Abū Dāwood no. 5034)
In another narration reported by Muslim, Salamah Ubn Ul-Akwa‘ (ABPWH) narrated that when a man sneezed in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH) , Salamah heard the Prophet (PBUH) answering the man who sneezed, ‘Yarhamuk Allāh’ (i.e. May Allāh have mercy on you). Salamah continues that the man then sneezed again and the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) said, “The man has a cold.” (Muslim no. 2993)
Thus, one who sneezes should not be answered in two situations:
1. If the one who sneezes does not praise Allāh the Almighty after sneezing.
2. If someone sneezes more than three times and is thus expected to have a cold.
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