Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed
Translated by Ruqayyah Ahdab
Is it permissible to use perfume that has musk and/or amber in its ingredients?
Musk and amber are pure substances which are permissible to sell and use as perfume. As for musk, Imam Muslim related from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said, “Musk is the most pleasant of scents.” And in the Sahihayn, from Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said that the gleam of musk was visible in places where the Prophet had passed through.”
As for ambergris, the books of fiqh have differed whether it is from a plant source or whether it is from the insides of a fish. If the former is true, it would be pure; if the latter is true, it would impure.
[Hamza’s Note: It is well-established today that ambergris is a substance that comes from the intestines of the sperm whale. Pure ambergris would therefore be filth and impermissible for followers of the Shafi`i school.]
والحاصلُ أن ما يوجد من العنبر فالأصل فيه الطهارة، إلا إن تحققنا أنه أخذ من جوف السمك ودواب البحر فيكون حينئذ متنجساً يجب غسله فقط فيطهر، وما شككنا في حاله فهو طاهر لا يحتاج إلى غسل، والله تعالى أعلم.