The Sunnah Method of Applying Perfume
(In the Light of Authentic Hadiths)
Question:
What is the Sunnah regarding the use of perfume? Aftawna ma’jurin.
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The Prophet ﷺ and the Use of Fragrance
✿ Sahih al-Bukhari (2/878) narrates from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
“The Prophet ﷺ would not reject fragrance.”
The same is also found in al-Mishkat (1/260).
✿ Sahih Muslim (2/239) narrates from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Three things should not be rejected: a pillow, oil, and milk.”
The chain of this hadith is hasan, and here “oil” refers to fragrance.
This narration is also found in Abu Dawud (2/222), Ahmad (2/32), and al-Silsilah al-Sahihah (2/183).
Perfume is Among the Sunnah of the Prophets
✿ The hadith states:
“Four things are among the Sunnah of the Messengers: 1. Modesty, 2. Applying perfume, 3. Using the miswak, 4. Marriage.”
This hadith is narrated by Tirmidhi, and it is also recorded in al-Mishkat (1/44).
The Prophet ﷺ’s Love for Fragrance
✿ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to apply perfume very frequently, and fragrance was extremely dear to him.
The Manner (Method) of Applying Perfume
✿ Sahih Muslim (1/378) and Bukhari (1/41) contain this hadith:
“Chapter: One who applies perfume and then bathes, and the trace of the perfume remains.”
Hadhrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“It is as if I am seeing the shine of the perfume in the parting of the hair of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was in ihram.”
✿ Bukhari (2/877) also contains a hadith in which this chapter is mentioned:
“Chapter: Applying perfume to the head and beard.”
Hadhrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“Whatever good fragrance we obtained, I would apply it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and that fragrance would shine in his head and beard.”
The Mothers of the Believers and Women’s Use of Perfume
✿ Bukhari (2/803) narrates from Hadhrat Zaynab bint Abi Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her):
“I went to Umm Habibah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, when her father Abu Sufyan ibn Harb (may Allah be pleased with him) died. She called for a yellow fragrance, whether it was ‘khaluq’ or something else, and she applied it to a girl, then applied it to both sides of her face.”
A Wife Applying Perfume to Her Husband
✿ Imam Bukhari established a chapter in Bukhari (2/877):
“Chapter: A woman applying perfume to her husband with her own hand.”
Hadhrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“I applied perfume to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with my own hand, when he put on ihram and before the Tawaf al-Ifadah in Mina.”
Conclusion
✿ All these ahadith are evidence that:
➊ The Prophet ﷺ greatly loved fragrance and used it frequently.
➋ The Prophet ﷺ applied perfume to his head and beard.
➌ Women, especially the Mothers of the Believers, used perfume on their cheeks.
➍ A wife applying perfume to her husband is also proven from the Sunnah.
Therefore, there is no specific restricted method prescribed for applying perfume; rather, whatever method perfume is applied by, it falls within the scope of the Sunnah, provided that it does not violate the principles of the Shariah.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
