What is the ruling on saying "Yarhamuk Allah" to one who sneezes, and is it sufficient for one of those present to say it, or is it obligatory upon everyone? And does the same ruling apply to returning the greeting of Salaam?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Sneeze-replying (tashmit al-'atis) is a or a communal obligation (fard kifayah) according to the majority of scholars, while some consider it an individual obligation (fard 'ayn). So, whoever hears someone praise Allah (al-hamid) should say to him: "Yarhamuk Allah (May Allah have mercy on you)," and the sneezer should reply to him: "Yaghfir Allahu lana wa lakum (May Allah forgive us and you)" or "Yahdikum Allahu wa yuslihu balakum (May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs)," with the latter being preferable. As for giving the greeting of peace (salam), it is a Sunnah, and returning it is a communal obligation.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/114930
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 114930
- 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.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy