Did Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) abstain from the using henna (mehndi) because Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) disliked its odour?
Answer
Imams Nasai and Abu Dawud (rahimahumallah) have recorded the following Hadith:
A woman once asked Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) regarding henna. She replied, ‘There is no problem [using it], however I dislike it as my beloved (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) disliked the smell.’
(Sunan Nasai; Al Mujtaba, Hadith: 5090, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4161)
In Musnad Ahmad, the words are as follows:
Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) said, ‘My beloved (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) liked the colour [of henna] but disliked the smell.’
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 6 pg. 117 and pg. 210)
Note:
1) ‘Allamah Ibn Raslan (rahimahullah) says that this applies to a woman using henna on her hair, her hands and feet. (Sharh Ibn Raslan, Hadith: 4164)
2) Despite Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) disliking the smell of henna, he still stated that women should apply henna on their finger nails to differentiate between the hand of a male and female. (Sunan Abi Dawud and Sunan Nasai)
3) Kindly refer to a Mufti/Darul Ifta for further clarification on this issue.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar