Etiquette of Sneezing & Yawning in the Quran & Sunnah
Etiquette of Sneezing & Yawning in the Quran & Sunnah
Etiquette of sneezing and yawning in Islam (adab al-‘utas wa at-tathawub): what the sneezer says, what those who hear him must reply, covering the face, softening the voice, and how to hold back a yawn — from the authentic Sunnah.
1. When you sneeze, praise Allah — and let the exchange be completed.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ — يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ — يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
The sneezer says: Alhamdulillah (all praise is for Allah). His brother says to him: Yarhamukallah (may Allah have mercy on you). The sneezer answers: Yahdikumullahu wa yuslih balakum (may Allah guide you and set your affairs right).
2. Answering the sneezer is one of his rights over you.
Among the rights of a Muslim over a Muslim: “...and when he sneezes and praises Allah, then answer him (with Yarhamukallah).” If he does not praise Allah, the answer is not owed.
3. Know the difference: Allah loves sneezing and dislikes yawning.
“Allah loves sneezing and dislikes yawning. When one of you sneezes and praises Allah, it is a duty upon every Muslim who hears him to say Yarhamukallah. As for yawning, it is from Shaytan.”
4. Cover your face when you sneeze, and keep your voice low.
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sneezed, he would place his hand — or his garment — over his face and lower, or muffle, his voice with it.
5. Hold the yawn back as much as you are able.
“Yawning is from Shaytan, so when one of you yawns, let him hold it back as much as he can — for when one of you says ‘ha’ (yawning aloud), Shaytan laughs at him.”
6. Put your hand over your mouth when the yawn comes.
“When one of you yawns, let him place his hand over his mouth, for Shaytan enters.” The mouth is covered, the sound is swallowed, and the yawn is fought, not displayed.
7. After three sneezes, the sneezer is treated as one who has a cold.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that the reply is given to the sneezer up to three times; beyond that, he is one suffering a cold (zukam) — so do not keep answering beyond three.
8. When a non-Muslim sneezes and praises Allah, answer him with the words of guidance.
The Jews would sneeze in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ hoping he would say “Yarhamukumullah” to them; he would say: “Yahdikumullahu wa yuslih balakum” — may Allah guide you and set your affairs right.
9. Answer only the sneezer who praised Allah.
Two men sneezed in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ. He said “Yarhamukallah” to one of them and not to the other. Asked why, he said: “This one praised Allah, and that one did not praise Allah.” The reply of mercy follows the praise — no hamd, no tashmit.
Adab No. 23 — all evidences for this entry, taken from the DeenHub Global library. Open any link to read the original hadith or ayah in full.
- Point 1: Sahih al-Bukhari 6224 (Sahih)
- Point 2: Sahih al-Bukhari 1240 (Sahih)
- Point 3: Sahih al-Bukhari 6226 (Sahih)
- Point 4: Sunan Abu Dawud 5029 (Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani)) and Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2745 (Hasan (Darussalam))
- Point 5: Sahih al-Bukhari 6226 (Sahih)
- Point 6: Sunan Abu Dawud 5026 (Sahih (Al-Albani))
- Point 7: Sunan Abu Dawud 5034 (حسن موقوف ومرفوع (الألباني))
- Point 8: Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2739 (Sahih (Darussalam))
- Point 9: Sahih al-Bukhari 6221 (Sahih)