A note from the Shaykh regarding the Sunnah in responding to the sneezer
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The Shaykh : What is the response of the one who responds to the sneeze, and what do you say when he says, "May Allah have mercy on you"?
May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs, or May Allah forgive you. As for the common people, they say, "May Allah guide us and guide you." This response is correct if the one responding says, "May Allah have mercy on us and on you." But if he singles you out with the supplication, "May Allah have mercy on you," and then you go and include him and put yourself before him, it is better to say, "May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs." We used to hear many of our family members say, "May Allah guide us and guide you," and some of them say, "May Allah guide us and guide you." Does this differ in meaning or not?
It differs, because "May Allah guide us" means that someone gives us a gift.
Therefore, I would like you to point this out to people, may Allah reward you with good. When you hear them saying, "May Allah guide us and guide you," you say, "Wait, I am now going to argue with you using reason before the Shari'ah. What did I say?"
You said, "May Allah have mercy on you." Good, did I say, "May Allah have mercy on me and on you"?
No, you did not. So how do you say, "May Allah guide us and guide you"? Say, "May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs," correct?
Good, if he says, "May Allah guide us and guide you," has he fulfilled the obligatory?
Yes, because he said, "and guide you, O Allah." But it is better to stick to what the Sunnah brought.
May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs, or May Allah forgive you. As for the common people, they say, "May Allah guide us and guide you." This response is correct if the one responding says, "May Allah have mercy on us and on you." But if he singles you out with the supplication, "May Allah have mercy on you," and then you go and include him and put yourself before him, it is better to say, "May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs." We used to hear many of our family members say, "May Allah guide us and guide you," and some of them say, "May Allah guide us and guide you." Does this differ in meaning or not?
It differs, because "May Allah guide us" means that someone gives us a gift.
Therefore, I would like you to point this out to people, may Allah reward you with good. When you hear them saying, "May Allah guide us and guide you," you say, "Wait, I am now going to argue with you using reason before the Shari'ah. What did I say?"
You said, "May Allah have mercy on you." Good, did I say, "May Allah have mercy on me and on you"?
No, you did not. So how do you say, "May Allah guide us and guide you"? Say, "May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs," correct?
Good, if he says, "May Allah guide us and guide you," has he fulfilled the obligatory?
Yes, because he said, "and guide you, O Allah." But it is better to stick to what the Sunnah brought.