Response to Sneezing

“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 partner.” In response, he (his companion) should say, “May Allah have mercy on you.” The sneezing person should reply back by saying, “May Allah guide you, and look after your concerns.” Of such rights is to accept his call and attend his funeral.’”

“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 respond to his sneezing.’”

“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 believing person to visit him in his illness, attend his funeral, and respond to his sneezing, or he said, yusammithu (response to his sneezing) and when he invites accept his invitation.’”