باب استحباب تشميت العاطس إذا حمد الله تعالى وكراهة تشميته إذا لم يحمد الله تعالى و بيان آداب التشميت و العطاس والتثاؤب
Even a sneeze is folded into a life of gratitude and gentle community. This chapter teaches that the one who sneezes praises Allah by saying Al-hamdu lillah, and the one who hears responds with a prayer of mercy, Yarhamuk-Allah, which is then answered with a prayer of guidance. A reflex becomes a small exchange of blessings.
Two threads run through these hadith. First, the response is tied to gratitude: mercy is invoked for the one who remembered to praise Allah. Second, yawning is treated differently, as something to restrain and cover, since it is linked to heedlessness rather than thankfulness. Notice how the Prophet (peace be upon him) keeps even small bodily moments tied to remembrance of Allah.
Hadith 878
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إن الله يحب العطاس، ويكره التثاؤب، فإذا عطس أحدكم وحمد الله تعالي كان حقاً علي كل مسلم سمعه أن يقول له:يرحمك الله، وأما التثاؤب فإنما هو من الشيطان، فإذا تثاءب أحدكم فليرده ما استطاع، فإن أحدكم إذا تثاءب ضحك منه الشيطان" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning. When any one of you sneezes and says `Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)', it becomes obligatory upon every Muslim who hears him to respond with `Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)'. Yawning is from the devil. When one of you feels like yawning, he should restrain it as much as possible, for the devil laughs when one of you yawns." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning; when someone sneezes and praises Allah, those who hear should reply with a prayer of mercy, while yawning should be restrained. It ties a sneeze to gratitude and yawning to heedlessness.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 878 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 35
Hadith 879
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الله قال: "إذا عطس أحدكم فليقل: الحمد لله؛ وليقل له أخوه أو أصحابه: يرحمك الله، فإذا قال له: يرحمك الله، فليقل: يهديكم الله ويصلح بالكم" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When one of you sneezes he should say: 'Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah),' and his brother or his companion should say to him: 'Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you).' When he says this he should reply: 'Yahdikum-ullah wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and render sound your state of affairs)."' [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
After sneezing one says "praise be to Allah," the hearer replies "may Allah have mercy on you," and the sneezer answers "may Allah guide you and set right your affairs." A small, complete exchange of blessings.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 879 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 36
Hadith 880
Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي موسي رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "إذا عطس أحدكم فحمد الله فشمتوه، فإن لم يحمد الله فلا تشمتوه" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When one of you sneezes and praises Allah (i.e., says Al-hamdu lillah), you should invoke Allah's Mercy upon him (i.e., say Yarhamuk-Allah); but if he does not praise Allah, you should not respond." [Muslim].
In plain words
Invoke Allah's mercy on the one who sneezes only if he praised Allah; if he did not praise Him, you do not respond. The reply is tied to his gratitude.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 880 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 37
Hadith 881
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: عطس رجلان عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فشمت أحدهما ولم يشمت الآخر، فقال الذي لم يشمته: عطس فلان فشمته، وعطست فلم تشمتني؟ فقال: "هذا حمد الله، وإنك لم تحمد الله" ((متفق عليه))
When two men sneezed in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), he responded to one with "Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on you)" and did not respond to the other. The latter said to him: "You invoked a blessing on this man but did not do so in my case." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "He praised Allah (i.e., he said 'Al-hamdu lillah') but you did not." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet blessed one man who sneezed but not another, explaining the first had praised Allah while the second had not. It shows the response follows whether Allah was praised.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 881 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 38
Hadith 882
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا عطس وضع يده أو ثوبه علي فيه، وخفض -أو غض- بها صوته. شك الراوي. ((رواه أبو داود، والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sneezed, he would cover his mouth with his hand or a piece of cloth - thereby suppressing the sound. [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When he sneezed, the Prophet would cover his mouth with his hand or cloth and lower the sound. A simple lesson in covering and softening a sneeze out of good manners.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 882 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 39
Hadith 883
Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي موسي رضي الله عنه قال: كان اليهود يتعاطسون عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يرجون أن يقول لهم: يرحمكم الله، فيقول: ""يهديكم الله ويصلح بالكم" ((رواه أبو داود، والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)).
The Jews used to intentionally sneeze in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) hoping that he would say to them: 'Yarhamukum-ullah (may Allah have mercy on you),' but he would respond with: "Yahdikum-ullahu wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and render sound your state of affairs)." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Some would sneeze on purpose hoping for the prayer of mercy, but the Prophet instead replied for them with a prayer for guidance and right affairs. It shows the blessing of mercy belongs to sincere praise of Allah.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 883 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 40
Hadith 884
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "إذا تثاءب أحدكم فليمسك بيده علي فيه، فإن الشيطان يدخل" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When one yawns, he should put his hand over his mouth, otherwise the devil will enter." [Muslim].
In plain words
When yawning, one should cover the mouth with the hand. A brief instruction on restraining and covering a yawn.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 884 In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 41