Social Interactions

• Sunan Ibn Mājah 3509 - authentic (ṣaḥīḥ)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you sneezes, he should say [the above].” (Bukhārī 6224) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed 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 reply. As for yawning, it is from Shayṭān, so one must try one’s best to stop it. If one says ‘Hā’ when yawning, Shayṭān laughs at him.” (Bukhārī 6223) Two men sneezed in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ replied to one of them, but he did not reply to the other person. On being asked (why), the Prophet ﷺ said, “That one praised Allah (at the time of sneezing), while this one did not praise Allah.” (Bukhārī 6221) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The rights of a Muslim on the Muslims are six.” It was said to him: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what are they?” He replied: “When you meet him, greet him; when he invites you to a meal, accept it; when he seeks your advice, give him advice; when he sneezes and praises Allah, reply; when he falls ill, visit him; and when he dies, follow his funeral.” (Muslim 2162)

• Bukhārī 6224; Bukhārī 6223; Bukhārī 6221; Muslim 2162

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “If anyone of you sneezes, he should say ‘Al-ḥamdu li-llāh’ (Praise be to Allah), and his (Muslim) brother or companion should say to him, [the above]. (Bukhārī 6224)

• Muslim; Bukhārī 6224

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ” If anyone of you sneezes, he should say ‘Al-ḥamdu li-llāh’ (Praise be to Allah), and his (Muslim) brother or companion should say to him, ‘Yarḥamuka-llāh’ (May Allah bestow his Mercy on you). When the latter says ‘Yarḥamuka-llāh”, the former should say [the above].” (Bukhārī 6224) The Jews used to try to sneeze in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ hoping that he would say to them: “Allah have mercy on you!” but he would say: [the above].” (Abū Dāwūd 5038)”

• Muslim; Bukhārī 6224; Abū Dāwūd 5038

ʿImrān b. Ḥusayn (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: ‘Peace be upon you.’ He responded and then he sat down. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Ten.’ Then another came and said: ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.’ He responded to him and he sat down. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Twenty.’ Then another came and said: ‘Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah.’ He responded to him and he sat down. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Thirty.’” (Abū Dāwūd 5195) Abdullāh b. ʿAmr b. ʿĀṣ (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “Which part of Islam is the best?” He replied: “That you feed people and greet those whom you know and those whom you don’t know.” (Bukhārī 12) Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah created Adam in His form, and his height was sixty cubits. When He had created Adam, He told him: ‘Go and greet that group of angels who are sitting down, and listen to what they greet you with; for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your progeny.’ He said: ‘Peace be upon you.’ They said: ‘And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.’ They added ‘the mercy of Allah.’” (Bukhārī 3326) Barā’ b. ʿĀzib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed seven things: visit the sick, follow the funeral processions, respond when someone sneezes, help the weak, assist the oppressed, extend greetings and fulfil vows. (Bukhārī 1239) Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “You will not enter Paradise until you have true faith, and you will not have true faith until you love one another. Shall I not show you a thing which, if you did, would cause you to love one another? Exchange greetings amongst yourselves.” (Muslim 54) ʿAbdullāh b. Salām (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘O people, exchange greetings, feed people, maintain family ties and perform salah while others are sleeping, and you will enter the Paradise of your Lord in peace.” (Tirmidhī 2487) Isḥāq b. ʿAbdullāh b. Abī Talḥa (raḥimahullāh) related that Ṭufayl b. Ubayy b. Kaʿb (raḥimahullāh) told him that he used to go to the house of ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) and go with him to the market. ʿAbdullāh did not pass by any ragman, merchant, poor man or anybody else without greeting him. Ṭufayl said: “I came to Abdullāh b. ʿUmar one day and he followed me to the market. I asked him: ‘What do you do in the market, as you do not stop for any merchandise, or ask any price, or bargain, or sit in the gatherings of the market?’ He replied: ‘I say: “Sit with us, let’s talk.’” Ibn ʿUmar (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) told me: ‘O Abū Baṭan’, ‘we only come for the greeting. We greet everyone we meet.’” (Muwaṭṭā)

• Abū Dāwūd 5195; Bukhārī 12; Bukhārī 3326; Bukhārī 1239; Muslim 54; Tirmidhī 2487

Usāmah b. Zayd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever is treated well and says [the above] has expressed praise to the fullest. (Tirmidhī 2036)

• Tirmidhī 2036

“Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “A man was with the Prophet ﷺ when another man passed by. He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I love this person.’ The Prophet ﷺ asked him: ‘Have you let him know?’ ‘No,’ he replied. He said: ‘Let him know.’ He met [the same man] and said: ‘I love you for the sake of Allah.’ He replied with [the above].” (Abū Dāwūd 5125) Miqdām b. Maʿdikarib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “If any of you loves a person as his brother, he should tell him that he loves him.” (Tirmidhī)

• Abū Dāwūd 5125; Tirmidhī