Hadith - Bukhari 2.331, Narrated Al Bara bin Azib, r.a.

Allah's Apostle ordered us to do seven things and forbade us to do other seven. He ordered us: to follow the funeral procession, to visit the sick, to accept invitations, to help the oppressed, to fulfill the oaths, to return the greeting and to reply to the sneezer (saying, "May Allah be merciful on you," provided the sneezer says, "All the praises are for Allah,"). He forbade us to use silver utensils and dishes and to wear golden rings, silk (clothes), Dibaj (pure silk cloth), Qissi and Istabraq (two kinds of silk cloths).

Hadith - Bukhari 2.332, Narrated Abu Huraira, r.a.

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The rights of a Muslim on the Muslims are to follow the funeral processions, to accept invitation and to reply the sneezer."

Hadith - Malik's Muwatta Book 54, Number 54.2.4

Malik related to me from Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr from his father that the Messenger of Allah  said, "If a man sneezes, invoke a blessing on him. Then if he sneezes, invoke a blessing on him. Then if he sneezes, invoke a blessing on him. Then if he sneezes, say, 'You have a cold'." Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr said, "I don't know whether it was after the third or fourth."

Hadith - Bukhari 8.240, Narrated Anas bin Malik, r.a.

Two men sneezed before the Prophet . The Prophet said to one of them, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on you," but he did not say that to the other. On being asked (why), the Prophet said, "That one praised Allah (at the time of sneezing), while the other did not praise Allah."

Hadith - Bukhari 8.240, Narrated Anas bin Malik

The Prophet said, "Allah likes sneezing and dislikes yawning, so if someone sneezes and then praises Allah, then it is obligatory on every Muslim who heard him, to say: May Allah be merciful to you (Yar-hamuka-l-lah). But as regards yawning, it is from Satan, so one must try one's best to stop it, if one says 'Ha' when yawning, Satan will laugh at him."

Hadith - Malik's Muwatta Book 54, Number 54.2.5

Malik related to me from Nafi that when Abdullah ibn Umar sneezed and someone said to him, "May Allah have mercy on you," (Yarhamuka'llah), he said, "May Allah have mercy on us and you, and forgive us and you." (Yarhamuna'llah wa yaghfirlana wa lakum).

Related Links:  Yawning   |  Joking  |  Manners

Action Items for the uttaqun:

• When you sneeze, say "Alhamdulilah".

• When you hear someone else sneeze AND they say "Alahamdulilah," you reply "yarhamuka'Allah".

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!