Dought & clear, - [Sifat al-Salaah (description of the prayer)] - - He sneezed whilst he was praying – should he say al-hamdu Lillaah?.

If I sneeze whilst I am praying, should I say al-hamdu Lillaah or not?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If a person sneezes whilst he is praying, it is prescribed for him to
say al-hamdu Lillaah, may He be glorified, whether the prayer is
obligatory or naafil. This is the view of the majority of scholars
among the Sahaabah and Taabi'een, and it was also the view of Imam
Maalik, al-Shaafa'i and Ahmad, but they differed as to whether he
should say it silently or out loud. The correct view and the view of
Imam Ahmad is that he should say it out loud, but only loud enough
that he can hear himself, lest he distract other worshippers. That is
indicated by the general meaning of the report narrated by Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If one of you sneezes, let him
say 'Al-hamdu Lillaah'…" The hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari. That
is also supported by the report narrated by Rifaa'ah ibn Raafi' (may
Allaah be pleased with him) who said: I prayed behind the Messenger of
Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and I sneezed and
said: Praise be to Allaah, much good and blessed praise, as our Lord
loves and is pleased with. When the Messenger of Allaah(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) had finished praying he said: "Who is
the one who spoke during the prayer?" and no one said anything. Then
he said it a second time, "Who is the one who spoke during the
prayer?" and no one said anything. Then he said it a third time, "Who
is the one who spoke during the prayer?" and Rifaa'ah ibn Raafi' said:
It was me, O Messenger of Allaah. He said: "What did you say?" He
said: I said: Praise be to Allaah, much good and blessed praise, as
our Lord loves and is pleased with. The Messenger of Allaah(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose hand is my
soul, thirty-odd angels competed to see which of them would take it
up." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood and al-Nasaa'i. Al-Tirmidhi
said: a hasan hadeeth. Al-Haafiz narrated inal-Tahdheebfrom
al-Tirmidhi that it is saheeh. It was also narrated by al-Bukhaari in
hisSaheehbut he did not mention that he said that after sneezing,
rather he said it after rising from bowing. It may be that he sneezed
whilst rising from bowing and he said that because he sneezed, and the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) approved of that
and did not rebuke him for it. This indicates that it is prescribed
during prayer, but if a person sneezes whilst praying then praises
Allaah, it is not permissible for those who hear him to say Yarhamak
Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you), because that is part of human
speech and it is not permissible during prayer. It is proven that the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) denounced someone
who said Yarhamak Allaah to a man who sneezed whilst praying, then he
said to him: "In this prayer nothing of human speech is permitted; it
is only tasbeeh (glorifying Allaah), takbeer (magnifying Allaah) and
recitation of Qur'aan." Narrated by Imam Muslim, Abu Dawood and
al-Nasaa'i.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and
peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End
quote.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Fataawa Al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah li'l-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wa'l-Ifta' (26/113).