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