From amongst the many bounties and rewards of doing good deeds is that we will be forgiven for our wrongs and sins and furthermore, Allah has promised us a great reward.

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ

Those who believe and do good deeds shall have forgiveness and a magnificent reward. [Fatir 35: 07]

In another verse, Allah says:

لِّيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ

To reward those who have believed and done good deeds; it is them for whom there is forgiveness and an honourable sustenance. [Saba 34: 04]

In both verses above we see the promise of Allah is forgiveness for our sins because of the Good Deeds we have performed.

Praising Allah upon Sneezing and its Response

Do you know that Allah likes sneezing but dislikes yawning?

As a Muslim you can even gain rewards by sneezing!

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعُطَاسَ وَيَكْرَهُ التَّثَاؤُبَ، فَإِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ وَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ كَانَ حَقًّا عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ سَمِعَهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ‏.‏ وَأَمَّا التَّثَاؤُبُ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، فَإِذَا تَثَاوَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَرُدَّهُ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ، فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا تَثَاءَبَ ضَحِكَ مِنْهُ الشَّيْطَانُ

Narrated Abu Huraira RA: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah loves sneezing but dislikes yawning; so if anyone of you sneezes and then praises Allah, every Muslim who hears him (praising Allah) has to say يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ to him. But as regards yawning, it is from Shaytan, so if one of you yawns, he should try his best to stop it, for when anyone of you yawns, Satan laughs at him.”

The natural act of sneezing is a mercy and grace of Allah. It relieves us from discomfort, and we should thank Allah for it. When you say “Alhamdulillah” when you sneeze, you’re reviving a Sunnah!

إِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ‏:‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، فَإِذَا قَالَ‏:‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، فَلْيَقُلْ لَهُ أَخُوهُ أَوْ صَاحِبُهُ‏:‏ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ، وَلْيَقُلْ هُوَ‏:‏ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ‏.‏

Abu Salih reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When one of you sneezes, he should say, ‘Praise be to Allah.’ When he says, ‘Praise be to Allah, ‘ his brother or companion should say to him, ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’ Then let the person who sneezed say, ‘May Allah guide you and put your affairs in order.'” [Al Adab ul Mufrad]

There’s another Sunnah to revive while sneezing; it’s covering your mouth as the Prophet ﷺ did.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا عطس وضع يده أو ثوبه علي فيه، وخفض -أو غض- بها صوته

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sneezed, he would cover his mouth with his hand or a piece of cloth – thereby suppressing the sound. [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]

In different parts of the world, people say “God Bless You” after sneezing. But as Muslims we should endeavour to practise on the teachings of our Blessed Nabi ﷺ, thus earning us great rewards for a simple good deed!