to those around him.

The second benefit is that something repulsive may be expelled from his nose—something people naturally find unpleasant—so covering the face is preferable.

Yet do not follow the practice of some who clamp a hand over their noses as they sneeze. That is a mistake, because it restrains the burst of air that must exit through the mouth and may even harm the sneezer.

The reports the author cites further show that when a person sneezes but does not say al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah), one should not respond with yarḥamuka Allāh (May Allah have mercy on you). Two men once sneezed in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ: he said, “May Allah have mercy on you” to one of them but said nothing to the other. The second man protested, “Messenger of Allah, So-and-so sneezed and you said to him, ‘May Allah have mercy on you,’ yet I sneezed and you did not say it to me.” The Prophet replied, “He praised Allah, whereas you did not.”

Accordingly, if someone sneezes and fails to praise Allah, do not say to him, “May Allah have mercy on you.” Should we then prompt him, “Say al-ḥamdu lillāh”? No. This hadith indicates that you do not remind him, for the Prophet ﷺ did not instruct, “If someone sneezes and omits the praise, remind him.” Instead, he said, “Do not respond to him.” Therefore we do not tell him, “Say al-ḥamdu lillāh.”