As we discussed good manners over the last two weeks, and which of these are required by way of duty which one Muslim owes to another, we mentioned that there is a certain order to be followed when a person sneezes. We mentioned several Hadiths on this point, but we noted that there are many others on the same subject, which suggests that the Prophet was keen to make this a standard practice in the Muslim community because it strengthens social ties and fraternal feelings.

It also suggests that the Prophet said these Hadiths on several occasions to different audience, but we gather from them that he taught his companions what to say and how, suggesting different phrases so that people are not bound by a certain wording.

A Hadith reported by Abdullah ibn Masood says: "If any of you sneezes, he should say, ‘Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.’ Whoever is present should then say, ‘May God grant you mercy.’ He should reply by saying, ‘May God forgive you and me our sins.’ (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Al-Tabarani and Al-Hakim).

This is practically the same as a Hadith we quoted earlier, except in the reply of the person who sneezes. In the other Hadith, he replies, ‘May God give you guidance and reassurance.’

But do we pray for anyone who sneezes? The following Hadith gives a clear answer. Abu Hurayrah reports: "Two men were sitting with the Prophet, one of them was of a better social status than the other. The higher-ranking person sneezed, but the Prophet did not say the usual prayer, ‘may God grant you mercy.’ Then the other person sneezed and praised God, so the Prophet prayed for him. The higher-ranking person said to the Prophet: ‘I sneezed while I am sitting with you and you did not pray for me; but when this man sneezed you prayed for him. The Prophet said: ‘This man remembered God, so I remembered him; and you forgot to praise God, so I omitted to pray for you’." (Related by Muslim, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad and others).

The identity of the two men is not mentioned in this Hadith. However, Al-Tabarani mentions that they were Amir ibn Al-Tufayl and his nephew. According to Arabian tradition, a nephew could not be given a higher rank than his uncle. Therefore, it was only natural that the uncle should remark on the Prophet’s behavior in identical situations.

Hence the Prophet explains that when a person omits to praise God after sneezing, we do not pray for mercy for him. This was the practice applied by the Prophet’s companions. A report by Makhool mentions that he was next to Abdullah ibn Umar, one of the learned companions of the Prophet, when a man in a far corner of the mosque sneezed. Ibn Umar said to him: ‘May God have mercy on you if you have praised Him.’"

Abu Musa Al-Ashari was a well-known companion of the Prophet, and he learned the Qur’an by heart and achieved a good standing in scholarship. He was one of the few of the Prophet’s companions who issued rulings after the Prophet had passed away.

He was once visiting Umm Al-Fadl, the wife of Al-Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle when his own son, Abu Burdah came in. A little while later, Abu Burdah sneezed but his father did not reply with the usual prayer that God may have mercy on him. Then Umm Al-Fadl sneezed and he prayed God to bestow His mercy on her. Abu Burdah, who apparently was still young, complained to his mother. When Abu Musa went home, his wife blamed him, saying: ‘You do not pray for my son when he sneezes, but you pray for her!’ He said: ‘I heard the Prophet when he said: If any of you praises God after he sneezes in your presence, you should pray to God to bestow mercy on him; but if he does not praise God, then do not pray for him. This son of mine did not praise God after he sneezed; so I left out praying for him; but when she sneezed, she praised God and I prayed for her.’ His wife said, ‘Then, you have done well.’"

Here we see that even when the person concerned is one’s closest relative, the same standard applies. Apparently Abu Burdah was still young when this took place.

This is the only way to explain his being upset and his complaint to his mother. But when the mother realized that her husband did only what the Prophet said, she was fully in agreement with him.

But what if a person has a cold which causes him to sneeze frequently? Abu Hurayrah says: "Pray for his forgiveness once, twice and a third time. If he still sneezes, then he has a cold." (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad). This Hadith is not attributed to the Prophet, but Abu Hurayrah would not give such advice unless he has a basis for it from the Prophet himself.

There are indeed other Hadiths which confirm this, such as the one reported by Iyas ibn Salamah: "I was attending the Prophet when a man sneezed, and the Prophet said to him, ‘may God grant you His mercy’. He sneezed again, and the Prophet said, ‘this person has a cold.’" (Related by Muslim and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad). The approved guidance in such a case, when we realize that a person is sneezing because of having a cold, is to say, ‘may God grant you recovery’.

Before we end this topic, it is useful to mention a report by Abu Musa Al-Ashari, a companion of the Prophet: "The Jews used to force themselves to sneeze when they came to the Prophet, hoping that he would pray God to grant them mercy. But he used to say to them, ‘May God grant you guidance and reassurance.’" (Related by Al-Bukhari, Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi).

This is another example of the attitude of some unbelievers. It is well known that there were many Jews living in Madinah when the Prophet settled there. They had contacts with him, and some of their rabbis and leaders visited him on several occasions.

However, they adopted a hostile attitude, despite the fact that they recognized him as the last messenger. Their behavior mentioned by Abu Musa gives another indication of their conviction that Muhammad was God’s messenger. They tried to get him to pray God to have mercy on them, knowing that God always answers His messengers’ prayers. But the Prophet was aware of their trick and he prayed God to grant them guidance. It is when people follow divine guidance that we may pray God to grant them mercy.