What Is the Prophetic Etiquette of Blowing One’s Nose?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam ‘aleykum.

What is the prophetic etiquette of blowing one’s nose?

One of my housemates blows nose very loudly in bathroom regularly throughout the day everyday such that you can hear him easily in other rooms (he is not sick and does it out of habbit). I find it uncomfortable.

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you well, insha’Allah.

The prophetic way of doing things is always with decency and beauty, regardless of what the specific matter in question is.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.” [Muslim]

As such, and in so far as propriety goes, it would be superior to avoid blowing excessively hard such that it emits a loud noise— (1) from the perspective of potential harm, and (2) because annoying a fellow believer is at least disliked.

Thereafter, you should strive to avoid listening too hard considering that he has gone to a private place, and give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps there are things which you do that annoy him.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.” [Bukhari]

The sunna is in maintaining good ties on the basis of mutual love, respect and good character, whilst striving to overlook that which annoys, for the sake of Allah, as long as it is not legally problematic.

Please also see: What Are the Sunnas Related to Burping and Passing Wind?

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani