Response to Sneezing

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لِلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى أَخِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا لَقِيَهُ وَ يَعُودَهُ إِذَا مَرِضَ وَ يَنْصَحَ لَهُ إِذَا غَابَ وَ يُسَمِّتَهُ‌[1] إِذَا عَطَسَ يَقُولَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ يَقُولَ لَهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ فَيُجِيبَهُ فَيَقُولَ لَهُ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ يُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ وَ يُجِيبَهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَ يَتْبَعَهُ إِذَا مَاتَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One of the rights of a Muslim on his brother (in belief) is that on meeting him he should offer him the greeting of peace, visit him when he is ill, look after his interests in his absence and when sneezing one should say: “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no pa

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا عَطَسَ الرَّجُلُ فَسَمِّتُوهُ وَ لَوْ كَانَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ جَزِيرَةٍ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ لَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْبَحْرِ.

“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.’”

كُنَّا جُلُوساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ عَطَسَ رَجُلٌ فَمَا رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ شَيْئاً حَتَّى ابْتَدَأَ هُوَ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ أَلَّا سَمَّتُّمْ إِنَّ مِنْ حَقِّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَعُودَهُ إِذَا اشْتَكَى وَ أَنْ يُجِيبَهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَهُ إِذَا مَاتَ وَ أَنْ يُسَمِّتَهُ إِذَا عَطَسَ.

“Once we were in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when a man sneezed and no one from the group responded until he (the Imam) initiated saying: ‘Glory belongs to Allah, why did no one respond? It is of the rights of a Muslim upon the Muslim to visit him when he is ill, accept his invitation, attend his funeral and r

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ الرِّضَا ع فَعَطَسَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ عَطَسَ فَقُلْتُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ عَطَسَ فَقُلْتُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِذَا عَطَسَ مِثْلُكَ‌[2] نَقُولُ لَهُ كَمَا يَقُولُ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ أَوْ كَمَا نَقُولُ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَ لَيْسَ تَقُولُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ ارْحَمْ مُحَمَّد

“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

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ التَّثَاؤُبُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ‌[2] وَ الْعَطْسَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Once I heard al-Rida (a.s.) saying, ‘Yawning is from Satan and sneezing is from Allah.”

سَأَلْتُ الْعَالِمَ ع عَنِ الْعَطْسَةِ وَ مَا الْعِلَّةُ فِي الْحَمْدِ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ نِعَماً عَلَى عَبْدِهِ فِي صِحَّةِ بَدَنِهِ وَ سَلَامَةِ جَوَارِحِهِ وَ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَنْسَى ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ إِذَا نَسِيَ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ الرِّيحَ فَتَجَاوَزَ[3] فِي بَدَنِهِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُهَا مِنْ أَنْفِهِ فَيَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَيَكُونُ حَمْدُهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ شُكْر

“Once I asked the scholar about sneezing and the reason for praising Allah thereafter. The Imam said, ‘From Allah there are bounties in His servant, in his good health for his body and soundness of his limbs. The servant forgets remembering Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for such bounties. When he forgets All

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَحْصَيْتُ فِي الْبَيْتِ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا فَعَطَسَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَمَا تَكَلَّمَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَلَّا تُسَمِّتُونَ أَلَّا تُسَمِّتُونَ مِنْ حَقِ‌[4] الْمُؤْمِنِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ إِذَا مَرِضَ أَنْ يَعُودَهُ وَ إِذَا مَاتَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ جَنَازَتَهُ وَ إِذَا عَطَسَ أَنْ يُسَمِّتَهُ أَوْ قَالَ يُشَمِّتَهُ وَ إِذَا دَعَاهُ أَن

“Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). I counted that the people present were fourteen. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) sneezed and no one from the people said anything. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then asked, ‘You did not respond. Why did you not respond? It is of the rights of a believing person on the other believi

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ نِعْمَ الشَّيْ‌ءُ الْعَطْسَةُ تَنْفَعُ فِي الْجَسَدِ وَ تُذَكِّرُ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قُلْتُ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا قَوْماً يَقُولُونَ لَيْسَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فِي الْعَطْسَةِ نَصِيبٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانُوا كَاذِبِينَ فَلَا نَالَهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ ص.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Sneezing is a good thing. It benefits the body and reminds one of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’ I then said, ‘Nearby to us there are people who say, “There is nothing in sneezing for the Messenger of Allah.” The Imam said, ‘If they are lying, the intercession of Muhammad will n

عَطَسَ رَجُلٌ‌ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يُسَمِّتْهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ قَالَ نَقَصَنَا حَقَّنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ إِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَسَمَّتَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ.

“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

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَكْرَهُونَ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ مَوَاطِنَ عِنْدَ الْعَطْسَةِ وَ عِنْدَ الذَّبِيحَةِ وَ عِنْدَ الْجِمَاعِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا لَهُمْ وَيْلَهُمْ نَافَقُوا لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ.

“Once I said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘People do not like saying, “O Allah grant al-Salat, (favors) upon Muhammad and the AM al-Bay (family of Muhammad),” in three conditions: when sneezing, when slaughtering an animal and at the time of having intimate relations with their spouses.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘What is wrong

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذَا عَطَسَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ قَالَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَ يَرْحَمُكُمْ وَ إِذَا عَطَسَ عِنْدَهُ إِنْسَانٌ قَالَ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“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.’”

عَطَسَ غُلَامٌ لَمْ يَبْلُغِ الْحُلُمَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ.

“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.’”

إِذَا عَطَسَ الرَّجُلُ فَلْيَقُلِ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ إِذَا سَمَّتَ الرَّجُلُ فَلْيَقُلْ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ وَ إِذَا رَدَدْتَ فَلْيَقُلْ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَ لَنَا فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص سُئِلَ عَنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فِيهِ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ كُلُّمَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ فَهُوَ حَسَنٌ‌[1].

“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

عَطَسَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* ثُمَّ جَعَلَ إِصْبَعَهُ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ فَقَالَ رَغِمَ أَنْفِي لِلَّهِ رَغْماً دَاخِراً.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) sneezed and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ then he placed his finger over his nose and said, ‘Humble is my nose before Allah with complete humility.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ قَالَ إِذَا عَطَسَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ*- عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ لَمْ يَجِدْ وَجَعَ الْأُذُنَيْنِ وَ الْأَضْرَاسِ.

“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.”’”

فِي وَجَعِ الْأَضْرَاسِ وَ وَجَعِ الْآذَانِ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ مَنْ يَعْطِسُ فَابْدَءُوهُ بِالْحَمْدِ.

“For a tooth and earache when you hear a person sneeze, you should first say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ سَمِعَ عَطْسَةً فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ لَمْ يَشْتَكِ عَيْنَيْهِ وَ لَا ضِرْسَهُ‌[1] ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ سَمِعْتَهَا فَقُلْهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُ الْبَحْرُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If one hears a person’s sneezing and praises Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and asks Allah to grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt (family of Muhammad), he will not suffer from a toothache or eye trouble.’ The Imam then said, ‘When you hear it (sneezing)

عَطَسَ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ الْقَوْمُ هَدَاكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُولُوا يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّهُ نَصْرَانِيٌّ فَقَالَ لَا يَهْدِيهِ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يَرْحَمَهُ.

“Once a Christian man sneezed in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and the people said, ‘May Allah guide you.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘Say, “May Allah grant you mercy.’” They said, ‘He is a Christian.’ The Imam said, ‘Allah will not guide him until He grants him mercy.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا عَطَسَ الْمَرْءُ الْمُسْلِمُ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ لِعِلَّةٍ تَكُونُ بِهِ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عَنْهُ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* فَإِنْ قَالَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكَ قَالَ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْعُطَاسُ لِلْمَرِيضِ دَلِيلُ الْعَافِيَةِ وَ رَاحَةٌ لِلْبَدَنِ.

“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 t

قَالَ: الْعُطَاسُ يَنْفَعُ فِي الْبَدَنِ كُلِّهِ مَا لَمْ يَزِدْ عَلَى الثَّلَاثِ فَإِذَا زَادَ عَلَى الثَّلَاثِ فَهُوَ دَاءٌ وَ سُقْمٌ.

“Sneezing is beneficial to all parts of the body if it is not more than three times, if it is more than three times then it is an illness and disease.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّ أَنْكَرَ الْأَصْواتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ[2] قَالَ الْعَطْسَةُ الْقَبِيحَةُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘The most undesirable voice is the voice of donkeys.’ (31:19) The Imam said, ‘It is a bad sneezing.’”

مَنْ عَطَسَ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى قَصَبَةِ أَنْفِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ‌ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ* الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْداً كَثِيراً كَمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ خَرَجَ مِنْ مَنْخِرِهِ الْأَيْسَرِ طَائِرٌ أَصْغَرُ مِنَ الْجَرَادِ وَ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الذُّبَابِ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“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,

كُنْتُ أُجَالِسُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ مَجْلِساً أَنْبَلَ مِنْ مَجَالِسِهِ‌[1] قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَخْرُجُ الْعَطْسَةُ فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الْأَنْفِ فَقَالَ لِي أَصَبْتَ الْخَطَأَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَخْرُجُ فَقَالَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْبَدَنِ كَمَا أَنَّ النُّطْفَةَ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْبَدَنِ وَ مَخْرَجُهَا مِنَ الْإِحْلِيلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ مَا رَأَي

“I would sit in the meeting place of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) I swear by Allah that I had not seen any meeting place nobler than his meeting place. One day he asked me, ‘Where from does sneeze come?’ I said, ‘It comes out of the nose.’ He said, ‘You have got it wrong.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for yo

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَصْدِيقُ الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ الْعُطَاسِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Sneezing is a sign of truthfulness.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَتَحَدَّثُ بِحَدِيثٍ فَعَطَسَ عَاطِسٌ فَهُوَ شَاهِدُ حَقٍّ.

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If a man is speaking about something and someone sneezes, this is evidence of the truth.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَصْدِيقُ الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَ الْعُطَاسِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Sneezing is verification of the truthfulness of a person’s words.’”

إِذَا عَطَسَ الرَّجُلُ ثَلَاثاً فَسَمِّتْهُ ثُمَّ اتْرُكْهُ.

“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.”