Al Minah Al `Aliyyah (36)

5 - It is abominable to refuse a gift of perfume

 This is supported by the following ahadith:

a. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

“The Prophet r never refused a gift of perfume.”^[1]

b. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah r said,

‘He who is presented with a flower of sweet basil should not reject it, because it is light in weight and pleasant in odor.’”^[2]

In Sahih Muslim it is reported that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah r said,

 ‘He who is presented with a flower of sweet basil should not reject it, because it is light in weight and pleasant in odor.’”^[3]

Flowers of sweet basil may refer to all kinds of perfumes as mentioned by Al-Munzry.

The author of Awn Al-Ma’boud (may Allah be merciful to him) said: ”This hadith indicates that refusing the gift of perfume is not the practice of the Prophet because there is no reason for refusing it, as it is light in weight and pleasant in odor, so it can not harm the one to whom it is given.”^[4]

  6- The use of perfume is emphatically

      recommended in the following cases:

1- Friday: Abu Sa`id t narrated, “I testify that Allah’s Messenger r said,

 ‘The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every male Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and (also) the cleaning of his teeth with Siwak and the using of perfume if it is available.’”^[5]

This is the fifth case in which the Miswak is strongly recommended. In Sahih Muslim it says:

 "…and applying some perfume, that is available-these are essential."^[6]

 In another narration it says:

”As far as perfume is concerned, it may even be that used by a lady.”^[7]

That is, the perfume of his wife. These two narrations increase the application of perfume on Friday prayer. Some scholars say that it is recommended to be perfumed for the ‘Eid prayers, but I cannot recall or locate a Sahih hadith to be used as an evidence for that and Allah knows best.

2- When the woman takes a bath

    after finishing her menses:

`Aishah narrated:

“A woman asked the Prophet r about the bath which is taken after the finishing of menses. The Prophet r told her what to do and said, ‘Purify yourself with a piece of cloth scented with musk.’ The woman asked, ‘How shall I purify myself with it?’ He said, ‘Subhan Allah! Purify yourself (with it).’ I pulled her to myself and told her to rub the place soiled with blood with it.”

This hadith proves that it is recommended for women to perfume themselves after taking a bath at the completion of their menses and postpartum bleeding by rubbing the soiled place with it. This is not special for the woman’s pudendum, as a group of scholars have said that it is because the hadith indicates rubbing the place of blood and it is preferred to use musk.

Note: The legitimacy of tasbih (saying ”Subhan Allah”) when astonished is understood from the previous hadith and the Prophet’s saying: ”Subhan Allah! Purify yourself (with it).” So it is permissible to say Subhan Allah in astonishment or denial, as when the Prophet r was astonished he said, “Subhan Allah.”

It is related in Sahih Muslim and Al-Bukhari through Abu Hurairah t ,

“The Prophet r came across me in one of the streets of Medina and at that time I was Junub (in a state of major ritual impurity), so I slipped away from him and went to take a bath. On my return the Prophet r said, ‘O Abu Hurairah! Where have you been?’ I replied that I was Junub, so I disliked to be in your company. The Prophet r said, ‘Subhan Allah! A believer never becomes impure.’”^[8]

Moreover, in Sahih Muslim and Al-Bukhari it states:

 ”At that moment in time two Ansari man passed by the Prophet r and when they saw him they quickened their pace. The Prophet r said to them, ‘Do not hurry. She is Safiyyah, daughter of Huyai, my wife.’ They said: ‘Subhan Allah (Allah is free from imperfection)! O Messenger of Allah! (You are far away from any suspicion).’” ^[9]

What is more, giving the Takbeer [saying “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest)] is said to show astonishment. In Sahih Muslim and Al-Bukhari it states:

 “Then, I entered upon the Prophet r and said while standing, ‘Have you divorced your wives?’ The Prophet r replied in the negative. On that I said, ‘Allahu-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest.)’”^[10]

In at-Tirmidhi it states:

“They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Make a Dhat Anwat for us as they have a Dhat Anwat.’ The Prophet r said: ‘Subhaha ! This is the way of those who were before you.’” ^[11]

Thus, saying Takbir and Tasbih are allowed in instances of astonishment, but some scholars have said that the takbir is abominable in the case of astonishment and it is a preferred saying.

3-Befor entering the state of Ihram:

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported.

“I applied perfume to the Messenger of Allah r before he entered upon the state of Ihram and (concluding) before circumambulating the (sacred) House.”^[12]

This hadith illustrates that it is recommended to use perfume in this case and before Tawaf Al-Ifadah for the one who wants to exit his first ihram.

4-Perfuming the dead:

It was narrated that Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

“One of the daughters of the Prophet r died, and he sent word to us saying:

‘Wash her with water and lotus leaves and wash her an odd number of times, three, five, or seven if you think (that is needed), and put some camphor on her the last time. When you have finished, inform me.’ When we had finished, we informed him, and he threw his waist-wrap to us and said: ‘Shroud her in this.’^[13] And we combed her hair and put it in three braids, and put it behind her.”

Camphor is a mixture of perfumes. Some scholars said that it is recommended for the wife and husband to perfume themselves because it shows the good relation between them. Also, it is recommended when attending assemblies like ‘Eid and Friday prayer and the evidence has been indicated above.