If a man adds to the phrase "Alhamdulillah" when he sneezes, is his addition a religious innovation?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : O Shaykh, regarding the hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim , does this statement mean we can say that it is a religious innovation if one adds such an addition to the dhikr?
The Shaykh : Yes, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The dhikr transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is complete in every respect. If what is prescribed for the one who sneezes is to say only "Alhamdulillah," then a person should restrict himself to that. If he adds to it, we look at his intention: if he believes that adding to it is better, then he is an innovator. But if he believes that this addition is permissible and does it occasionally, then it is not a religious innovation. You should preserve what the Shari'ah brought regarding dhikr, whether it is the dhikr of greeting, sneezing, or otherwise, for that is better, more appropriate, and more complete.
A man sneezed and then said: "Alhamdulillah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah." Ibn 'Umar said to him: "I am with you: Alhamdulillah, and prayers upon the Messenger of Allah, but this is not how the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us."
أن رجلا عطس ثم قال : الحمد لله والصلاة السلام على رسول الله فقال له ابن عمر : وأنا معك الحمد لله والصلاة على رسول الله ولكن ما هكذا علمنا الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلمThe Shaykh : Yes, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
The dhikr transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is complete in every respect. If what is prescribed for the one who sneezes is to say only "Alhamdulillah," then a person should restrict himself to that. If he adds to it, we look at his intention: if he believes that adding to it is better, then he is an innovator. But if he believes that this addition is permissible and does it occasionally, then it is not a religious innovation. You should preserve what the Shari'ah brought regarding dhikr, whether it is the dhikr of greeting, sneezing, or otherwise, for that is better, more appropriate, and more complete.