Question: Is the one who sneezes while he is in the salaah to praise Allah [saying “Alhamdulillah”]?

Answer: It is recommended for whoever sneezed while he is in the prayer to praise Allah (subhaanahu) whether the prayer is an obligatory one or supererogatory. This is what the majority of the ‘ulamaa have said from the Sahaabah and the Taabi’een.

Should he say it silently (within himself)? That which is correct from the two statements of the ‘ulamaa is that he should say it audibly. However, it should [only] be to the point that he himself hears it (and not others) in order to not disturb the ones who are praying.

Source: Fatwaa of the Lajnah ad-Daa’imah under the Ri’aasah of Shaykh Ibn Baaz #20455

Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
29th of Jumaada al-Awwal, 1436 H (03-30-2015)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC

Original Arabic

س : هل يحمد الله من عطس وهو في الصﻻة ؟

ج : من عطس وهو في الصلاة فإنه يستحب له أن يحمد الله سبحانه، سواء كانت الصلاة فرضًا أو نفلاً،
وبذلك قـال جمهور العلماء من الصحابة والتابعين،

وهل يسر بذلك أو يجهر به ؟
الصحيح من قولي العلماء أنه يجهر بذلك، ولكن بقدر ما يسمع نفسه لئلا يشوش على المصلين.

(فتوى اللجنة الدائمة برئاسة الشيخ ابن باز رقم 20455)