To whom was the phrase "May God guide you and improve your state" directed?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
When a Muslim sneezes, his Muslim brother says to him: "Yarhamukum Allah (May Allah have mercy on you)," and the sneezer replies: "Yahdikum Allah wa yuslihu balakum (May Allah guide you and rectify your state)." This supplication for guidance and rectification of one's state is Islamically prescribed for a Muslim, and there is no impediment to it for a non-Muslim as well, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to do with the Jews. However, it is not permissible to supplicate for non-Muslims with mercy and forgiveness, but only with guidance and rectification of their state.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/69748
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 69748
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy