If a person sneezes during his Salah

Jamiatul Ulama KZN Daily Q&A

Nasihah (Advice): Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

“When one of you sneezes, he should say Alhamdulillah (all praise is to Allah) and the person near him should say Yarhamukallah (may Allah have mercy on you). Upon hearing his brother say this, he (the person who sneezed) should say Yahdeekumullah wa Yuslih Baalakum (May Allah guide you and set your affairs in order)”. 

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith #: 6224)
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Question and Answer:

Q. If a person sneezes during his Salah, need he say “Alhamdulillah” or it can violate the prayer?

(Query published as received)

A. If a person sneezes whilst in Salaah and he says “Alhamdulillah”, his Salaah does not become invalid. (Hashiyatut Tahtawi, Pg: 324)



Although the Salaah will not be invalidated, he should avoid saying Alhamdulillah in the Salaah. When he completes his Salaah, he may say Alhamdulillah. (Tabyinul Haqa’iq, Vol: 1, Pg: 168)

If a person in Salaah responds to a sneezing person’s Alhamdulillah by saying Yarhamukallah, his Salaah will be invalidated. Similarly, if the sneezing person responds to Yarhamukallah by saying Yahdeekumullah wa Yuslih Baalakum whilst in Salaah, his Salaah will also be invalidated. (Hashiyatut Tahtawi, Pg: 325)

And Allah Knows Best

Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed

Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians
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