Should a sneezer be answered during the Friday sermon?
2026-10-13
F203 · Selected fatwas
Shaykh Ibn Bāz
الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز
Original Q&A · Complete published question and answer
Complete published question and answer. The ruling is specifically about responding during the sermon.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
ما حكم تشميت العاطس والإمام يخطب يوم الجمعة؟
الجواب
لا يشرع تشميته لوجوب الإنصات، فكما لا يشمت العاطس في الصلاة، كذلك لا يشمت العاطس في حال الخطبة. والله ولي التوفيق.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
What is the ruling on responding to a sneezer with a prayer for mercy while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon?
Answer
Responding to him is not prescribed, because listening attentively is obligatory. Just as a sneezer is not answered during prayer, he is likewise not answered during the sermon. Allah is the giver of success.
Source and editorial notes
Official Ibn Bāz website, fatwa 5113; Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa-Maqālāt Ibn Bāz 12/339
الموقع الرسمي للشيخ عبد العزيز بن باز
Official Ibn Bāz website
Complete published Arabic question and answer checked against the official source, including follow-up exchanges and closing words where present. Arabic diacritics omitted, directional formatting marks removed and honorific glyphs expanded for display. Source footnotes are kept separate.