Can women wear perfume in Islam? The answer to this question is yes. A Muslim woman can put on whatever perfume she wants provided that non-Mahram men cannot find her scent.
In Islam, women can wear perfume at home, especially for their husbands, as it strengthens marital bonds. However, wearing fragrance in public where non-Mahram men can smell it is prohibited to prevent temptation (Fitnah).
Islamic teachings emphasize modesty, and scholars clarify that a woman should avoid scented adornments outside her home while being encouraged to enhance beauty within her marriage.
Let’s discuss them in more details:
Can women wear perfume in Islam?
Allah, The All Knowing, has put rules for Muslim women not to cause “Fitnah” to non-Mahram men, and thus protect the community from the consequences of undisciplined relationships between males and females.
Among these rules is that Muslim women are not allowed to show their adornments in front of non-mahram males. This includes putting on perfume outside their homes.
According to Shaykh Ibn Bazz:
“It is permissible for a woman to wear perfume if she goes out to a women’s gathering and does not pass by men on the way. As for her going out with perfume to markets where there are men, it is not permissible. According to the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him
Narrated by AbuHurayrah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If a woman fumigates herself with perfume, she must not attend the night prayer with us. Ibn Nufayl said: Isha’ means night prayer.
(Sunan Abi Dawud 4175).
In another Hadith narrated that Al-Ash’ari said:
“The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: ‘Any woman who puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance then she is an adulteress.'”
(Sunan an-Nasa’i 5126)
You can also watch this video for more elaboration on the ruling of putting on perfume for Muslim women:
Women wearing perfume and going out – Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem
Can a Muslim Woman wear Perfume for her Husband?
A Muslim woman is encouraged to wear perfume at her home for her husband in order to please him, because this helps to increase the affection and love between the spouses.
It was narrated from Abu Umamah that:
the Prophet used to say: “Nothing is of more benefit to the believer after Taqwa of Allah than a righteous wife whom, if he commands her she obeys him, if he looks at her he is pleased, if he swears an oath concerning her she fulfills it, and when he is away from her she is sincere towards him with regard to herself and his wealth.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 1857)
In this Hadith prophet Muhammad states among the qualities of the righteous Muslim wife that she pleases her husband when he looks at her, which encourages Muslim women to show their charm and adornment to their husbands.
In old Arabic literature, it was mentioned that a wise woman gave advice to her daughter who was getting married saying: ”Beware of letting your husband see anything that does not please him or letting him smell anything from you that he finds off-putting.”
To Sum Up!
Can women wear perfume in Islam? The answer to this question depends on whether the woman will put on perfume at her home for the pleasure of her husband or in the gathering of women or outside her home.
Muslim women are not allowed to go out of their homes putting on perfumes in the presence of non-Mahram men; however, using perfumes at home for the husband is encouraged
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