Fatwa ID: 07606

Answered by: Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar

Question:

I have a question. Is it recommended to use Dahn Al Oud attar? In their pure forms like the famous ones named Oud e Hindi or Cambodian Oud which are very expensive. In Shariah, is there any preference to use such organic oil-based fragrances over French perfumes? Will it be considered extravagant to spend a lot to buy them when they are even more expensive than gold of the same weight? They are also termed as liquid gold in the world of fragrances. I have come across that many pious ulama use them and give such gifts to respected elder scholars. Secondly, regarding the name oud Hindi which came in hadith, is it about burning wood only? (qist e Hindi) Or it can be achieved via its oil, that is Dahn Al Oud Hindi. Please elaborate. Jazak Allahu Khair.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Perfume was one of the Prophet’s favourite things as it is reported that the Prophet (saw) would never refuse a gift of perfume. The Prophet (saw) specifically spoke about Oud e Hindi as a cure for various diseases. There are further narrations which talk about the perfumes the Prophet (saw) used such as Musk and Amber. One may spend on perfumes as long as it is within their means to do so as we know Abdur Rahman bin Awf (ra), a very rich Sahabi, would use very expensive scents as well.  

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

صحيح البخاري – ط السلطانية ٣/‏١٥٧ 

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ :  حَدَّثَنَا عَزْرَةُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي ثُمَامَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: «دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَنَاوَلَنِي طِيبًا، قَالَ: كَانَ أَنَسٌ ﵁ لَا يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ، قَالَ: وَزَعَمَ أَنَسٌ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ لَا يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ.»

الكواكب الدراري في شرح صحيح البخاري ٢١/‏٨ 

وَكَانَتْ مِنْ الْمُهَاجِرَاتِ الْأُوَلِ اللَّاتِي بَايَعْنَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَهِيَ أُخْتُ عُكَاشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا أَتَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِابْنٍ لَهَا قَدْ أَعْلَقَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ الْعُذْرَةِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَى مَا تَدْغَرْنَ أَوْلَادَكُنَّ بِهَذَا الْعِلَاقِ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذَا الْعُودِ الْهِنْدِيِّ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ سَبْعَةَ أَشْفِيَةٍ مِنْهَا ذَاتُ الْجَنْبِ يُرِيدُ الْكُسْتَ وَهُوَ الْعُودُ الْهِنْدِيُّ

سنن النسائي ٨/‏١٥٠ 

أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ أَبِي السَّفَرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ الْمُزَلِّقُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ الْهَاشِمِيُّ ،  عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: «سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ :

أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَتَطَيَّبُ؟ قَالَتْ: نَعَمْ، بِذِكَارَةِ الطِّيبِ؛ الْمِسْكِ، وَالْعَنْبَرِ».