Is it permissible to respond to sneezing (tasmeet) and return a greeting (radd as-salam) while the Imam is delivering the Friday sermon?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
There are two narrations regarding responding to sneezing and returning greetings during the sermon. The first narration permits both actions, based on the statement of Ahmad that it was practiced by several people, and was permitted by Al-Hasan, Ash-Sha'bi, An-Nakha'i, Al-Hakam, Qatadah, Ath-Thawri, and Ishaq. The evidence provided is that these actions are obligatory, thus they must be performed during the sermon, similar to warning the blind.
Supporting text
The second narration differentiates based on hearing the sermon. If the person cannot hear the sermon, they may return the greeting and respond to the sneeze. If the person can hear the sermon, they should not do so. Ahmad stated that if one hears the sermon, they must listen and remain silent, refraining from reading, responding to sneezing, or returning greetings. This is based on the evidence from the Quran: {So listen to him and remain silent} (Quran 7:204). If one only hears the Imam's tone but cannot discern the words, they should not return the greeting. This view is also narrated from 'Ata, because remaining silent is obligatory, and speech that prevents silence is impermissible without necessity.