As salamu alaykum
Can a Muslimah wear perfume to the masjid for Salah? What is the ruling pertaining to this matter?
From: England
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuhu,
In Sharh Sahih Muslim v. 4, p. 706, Imam Nawawi mentioned the conditions for women to attend the mosque. The conditions are:
1) They do not wear perfume,
2) They do not dress attractively (lewdly),
3) They do not adorn themselves with jewelry that will make a noise thereby drawing attention to them,
4) They do not dress to show themselves off,
5) They do not mix with men,
6) She is not a young woman or one that will cause temptation by her presence,
7) And that there is nothing in the way to the mosque that may be dangerous for a woman.
Regarding the issue of a woman wearing perfume to the masjid, the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “If one of you attends the mosque, then do not touch perfume.” In Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 4, p. 199, Imam Nawawi stated that in light of this evidence it disliked for a woman to go to the mosque with perfume on; also see, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj v. 2, p. 252.
The ruling of makruh is something that a Muslim woman must abstain from. An Allah-conscious Muslim sister is sure to understand the Prophet’s advice, “If one of you attends the mosque, then do not touch perfume.”
And Allah knows best.
Shafifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.