Question

Assalamu Alaykum

If someone Praying in congregation sneezes and says Alhamdulillah, do we say Yarhamuk Allah? knowing that a response to the one sho sneezes is obligatory? Jazaakum Allahu Khayr

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible for the Muslim to say “Yarhamukallaah” (i.e. may Allah have mercy upon you) to the sneezer during prayer, and whoever does this deliberately while aware of the ruling, his prayer is invalid. That is because saying “Yarhamukallaah” to the sneezer involves talking with a human and when this happens deliberately while the praying person is aware of the prohibition, it invalidates his prayer.

Once a the companion, Mu‘aawiyah ibn Al-Hakam As-Sulami, may Allah be pleased with him, said “Yarhamukallaah” to a sneezer during the prayer, the Prophet said to him: "People's talk is not permissible during prayer because it involves only Tasbeeh, Takbeer and recitation of the Quran." [Muslim] However, the Prophet did not order him to repeat the prayer because he was unaware of the ruling.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb