Yarhamukallah Meaning
May Allah have mercy on you. The meaning, Arabic, when to say it, and its source in the Quran and Sunnah.
يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ
- Transliteration
- Yarḥamuka-llāh
- Meaning
- May Allah have mercy on you
Yarhamukallah means “may Allah have mercy on you”. It is said to someone who sneezes and then says “Alhamdulillah”.
The sneezing etiquette
- The one who sneezes says: Alhamdulillah (all praise is for Allah).
- The one who hears it replies: Yarhamukallah (may Allah have mercy on you).
- The sneezer answers: Yahdīkumu-llāhu wa yuṣliḥu bālakum (may Allah guide you and set your affairs right).
All three are in one hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari 6224).
Small words, real duas
A sneeze becomes three duas between two people. Learn more about Alhamdulillah.
Quran and hadith references link to quran.com and sunnah.com, where you can read the full text. Reviewed 19 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
Related Islamic phrases
AlhamdulillahAll praise is for Allah: said in gratitudeRahimahullahMay Allah have mercy on him: said for Muslims who have passed awayJazakAllah KhairMay Allah reward you with good: an Islamic thank you
All Islamic phrases, dates and tools
Frequently asked questions
What do you say when someone sneezes in Islam?
If they say “Alhamdulillah”, reply “Yarhamukallah” (may Allah have mercy on you) (Sahih al-Bukhari 6224).
What is the reply to Yarhamukallah?
“Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum”: may Allah guide you and set your affairs right.