Hadith>Articles>Sneezing & Yawning

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان: اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو نہایت مہربان رحم والا

Translation: Allah in the name of the most Affectionate the Merciful

Du’a for Reading the Book or Islamic Lesson

Read the following Du’a (supplication) before studying a religious book or Islamic lesson , you will remember whatever you study.

Translation:Ya Allah! Open the portal of knowledge and wisdom for us, and have mercy on us! O the one who is the most honourable and glorious! (Al-Mustaraf, vol. 1, pp. 40)

Note: Recite Durud Sharif once before and after the Du’a.

ترجمۂ کنزالایمان:اور اگر جب وہ اپنی جانوں پر ظلم کریں تو اے محبوب تمہارے حضور حاضر ہوں اور پھر اللہ سے معافی چاہیں اور رسول ان کی شفاعت فرمائے تو ضرور اللہ کو بہت توبہ قبول کرنے والا مہربان پائیں۔

                                                                                                      

Translation of Kanzul Iman:And if when they do justice unto their souls, then O beloved! They should come to you and then beg forgiveness of Allah and the messenger should intercede for them then surely, they would find Allah Most Relenting, Merciful (4:64)

Excellence of Durud Shareef

The Noble Rasool صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم has stated, ‘Whoever recites Salat upon me one time, Allah عزوجل sends ten mercies upon him.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 166, vol. 1)

Etiquettes regarding Sneezing & Yawning

Hadith 1: In Sahih Bukhari it is reported on the authority of Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that the Holy Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Allah loves sneezing but dislikes yawning, so if anyone of you sneezes and then says اَلْحَمْد لِلّٰہ Alhumdulillah, then every Muslim who hears him (praising Allah) must say یَرْحَمُکَ اللہ Yarhamuk’Allah. However, as regards to yawning, it is from shaitaan, so if one of you yawns, he should try his best to stop it, for when anyone of you yawns, Satan laughs at him.’ In other words, shaitaan becomes very happy, since this is a sign of laziness and negligence (and) shaitaan is pleased with such things. It is in Sahih Muslim that when he says ‘Haa’ (yawning sound), shaitaan laughs (at him).

Hadith 2: In Bukhari it is narrated from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasool صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When one of you sneezes, he should say, اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ and his brother or companion should say یَرْحَمُکَ اللہ. Then, the one who sneezed should say, یَھْدِیْکُمُ اللہُ وَیُصْلِحُ بَالَکُمْ۔. A narration cited in Tirmizi and Daarimi from Hazrat Abu Ayub رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ mentions that when a person sneezes, then he should say: اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ عَلٰی کُلِ حَال ۔ Alhumdulillahi Alaa Kul’li Haalin.

Hadith 3: In Tabrani it is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When anyone of you sneezes, he should say اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ Alhumdulillahi Rab’bil Aalameen’.

Hadith 4: Tabrani reports from Ibn Abbas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When a person sneezes and he says اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ Alhumdulillah, the Angels respond by saying رَبّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ Rab’bil Aalameen and if he says رَبّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ then the Angels say, یَرْحَمُکَ اللہ. Yarhamuk’Allah’.

Hadith 5: Tirmizi reported from Nafi’ that a person sneezed in the presence of Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما so he (the person who sneezed) said, اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ وَالسَّلامُ عَلٰی رَسُوْلِ اللہ۔ Alhumdulillahi Was Salaamu Alaa Rasoolillahi. (On hearing this) Hazrat Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما said, ‘I am also saying, اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ وَالسَّلامُ عَلٰی رَسُوْلِ اللہ Alhumdulillahi Was Salaamu Alaa Rasoolillahi, but this is not the occasion in which to say this. Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم instructed us to say اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ عَلٰی کُلِّ حَال in such a situation’.

Hadith 6: Tirmizi and Abu Dawud reported from Hilal bin Yassaf. He says, ‘We were with Saalim bin Ubaid and someone sneezed and he said, اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکُمْ۔  As Salaamu Alaikum. Saalim responded by saying وَعَلَیْکَ وَ عَلٰی اُمِّکَ Walaika wa Alaa Um’mika ‘Salaam upon you and your mother’. He felt sad (i.e. he was embarrassed at being given such an answer). It has been mentioned in the narration of Abu Dawud that he said, ‘It would have been more appropriate if you had not mentioned my mother, be it with good or bad intent’. Saalim said, ‘I have said that which the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said. I gave this reply because a person sneezed in the presence of Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and said As Salaamu Alaikum. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم replied by saying, وَعَلَیْکَ وَ عَلٰی اُمِّکَ Walaika wa Alaa Um’mika. Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم then advised him saying that when you sneeze say: اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْن Alhumdulillahi Rab’bil Aalameen, and the person replying should say, یَرْحَمُکَ اللہ Yarhamuk’Allah and the sneezer should say, یَغْفِرُ اللہُ لِیْ وَلَکُمْ.

Hadith 7: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Hazrat Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. He says that two people sneezed in the presence of the Holy Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم replied to one of them and did not reply to the other. He said, ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم, you replied to him (i.e. you prayed for mercy upon him) but you did not do so for me.’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘He said اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ Alhumdulillah, whereas you did not say it’.

Hadith 8: It is in Sahih Muslim from Abu Musa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. He says, ‘I heard the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم say that when someone sneezes and says اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہ Alhumdulillah, then you should reply to him, and if he does not say Alhumdulillah, then do not give him any response’.

Hadith 9: It is in Sahih Muslim from Salama bin Aku’ رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that a person sneezed in the presence of the Beloved Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم so the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم responded by saying یَرْحَمُکَ اللہ. He then sneezed again, (so) the Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘He has a cold’. It is mentioned in a narration cited in Tirmizi that the Beloved Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said this after he sneezed thrice. In other words, this is explaining that there is no need to respond when a person sneezes constantly.

Hadith 10: Tirmizi and Abu Dawud have reported on the authority of Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that when the Holy Prophet صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم sneezed, he would either cover his mouth with his hand or with a cloth, and he would suppress the sound.

Hadith 11: It is in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Sa’eed Khudri رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that when a person yawns, he should place his hand over his mouth because shaitaan enters the mouth.

Hadith 12: It is in Tabrani Awsat from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘The truth is evident when one sneezes’. It is in the narration of Hakeem on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that when something is being said and one sneezes in the course of it being mentioned, then that word is true. It is mentioned in the narration of Abu Nu’aim that when one sneezes at the time of Dua, it is testimony to the truth.

Hadith 13: Baihaqi reports in Sha’bul Imaan on the authority of Ubaadah bin Saamit and Shadaad bin Aus and Waathila that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said that when anyone burps or sneezes, he should not do so aloud, as shaitaan likes it when these are done in a loud voice.

Ya Allah عزوجل of Mustafa  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلم! We make sincere Dua that  blesses us all with strength in Imaan and true love for the Holy Prophet  صلی اللہ تعالی علیہ وسلمand for all those who follow that which has been taught and commanded by Him. Amin! (Source: Extracted from Bahaar-e-Shariat Volume 16)

Courtesy: Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center

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