اللَّهُمَّ الْطُفْ بِي فِي تَيْسيرِ كُلِّ عَسِيرٍ فَإنَّ تَيْسيرَ كُلِّ عَسيرٍ عَلَيْكَ يسير وأسئلك الُيسرَ والمعافاة في الدنيا والآخِرَةِ، اللَّهُمَّ اعْفُ عَنِّي فَإنَّك عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ

Prophet's Guidance on preserving the health with perfume

فصل‏:‏ في هَدْيه صلى الله عليه وسلم في حفظ الصحة بالطيب

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote : Since pleasant fragrances nourish the soul, and the soul serves as the vehicle of strength, strength increases with good scents. Fragrance benefits the brain, heart, and internal organs, brings joy to the heart, pleases the self, uplifts the soul, and is the most truthful and compatible nourishment for the soul. The connection between pure fragrances and the pure soul is profound. Therefore, fragrance was one of the beloved things in this world to the Purest of the Pure, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.

وفي صحيح البخارى ‏:‏ أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم كان لا يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ

In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is reported that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم never rejected a good fragrance.

وفي ‏صحيح مسلم‏ عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏من عُرِضَ عليه رَيْحانٌ ، فلا يَرُدَّهُ فإنه طَيِّبُ الرِّيح ، خَفِيفُ المَحْمِلِ‏

In Sahih Muslim, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever is offered Rehan~Basil (a fragrant plant), let them not reject it, for it is light to carry and has a pleasant scent.”

وفي ‏‏سنن أبى داود‏‏ و‏‏النسائي‏‏ ، عن أبى هريرةَ رضى الله عنه ، عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏مَن عُرِضَ عَلَيهِ طِيبٌ ، فَلا يَرُدَّهُ ، فَإنَّهُ خَفِيفُ المَحْمِلِ طَيِّبُ الرَّائِحَةِ‏

In Sunan Abi Dawood and al-Nasa’i, Abu Hurairah Radi Allaho Anh narrated that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever is offered perfume, let them not refuse it, for it is light to carry and has a pleasant fragrance.”

وفي مسند البزَّار‏‏ عن النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال ‏:‏ إنَّ اللهَ طَيِّبٌ يُحِبُّ الطِّيبَ ، نَظِيفٌ يُحِبُّ النَّظَافَةَ ، كَرِيمٌ يُحِبُّ الكَرَمَ ، جَوادٌ يُحِبُّ الجُودَ ، فَنَظِّفُوا أفْنَاءَكُم وسَاحَاتِكُم، ولا تَشَبَّهُوا بِاليَهُودِ يَجْمَعُون الأكُبَّ في دُورِهِمْ‏

‏In Musnad al-Bazzar, it is narrated from Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم that he said: "Indeed, Allah is Pure and loves purity. He is Clean and loves cleanliness. He is Generous and loves generosity. He is Noble and loves nobility. So, clean your courtyards and surroundings, and do not resemble the Jews who gather garbage in their homes."

وذكر ابن أبى شيبة ، أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم كان لَهُ سُكَّةٌ يَتَطَيَّب منها ‏.‏ وصَحَّ عنه أنه قال ‏:‏إنَّ للهِ حَقّاً عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ في كُلِّ سَبْعَةِ أيَّامٍ ، وَإنْ كَانَ لَهُ طِيبٌ أَنْ يَمَسَّ مِنْهُ

Ibn Abi Shaybah mentioned that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم had a scent he would use to perfume himself.

وصَحَّ عنه أنه قال ‏:‏ ‏‏إنَّ للهِ حَقّاً عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ في كُلِّ سَبْعَةِ أيَّامٍ ، وَإنْ كَانَ لَهُ طِيبٌ أَنْ يَمَسَّ مِنْهُ

It has been authentically reported that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Indeed, it is a right upon every Muslim to bathe at least once every seven days, and if he has a perfume, let him use some of it."

Perfume/fragrance has a unique quality: the angels love it, while the Shayateen/devils detest it. The most beloved thing to Shayateen is foul, unpleasant odors, whereas pure souls are naturally inclined toward pleasant fragrances. Foul souls are drawn to foul odors. Every soul is attracted to what suits its nature:

الخبيثات للخبيثين ، والخبيثون للخبيثات ، والطيباتُ للطيبين ، والطيبون للطيبات

"The impure women are for the impure men, and the impure men are for the impure women; and the pure women are for the pure men, and the pure men are for the pure women." (Surah An-Nur, 24:26) Although this verse primarily refers to men and women, its meaning extends to encompass actions, words, foods, drinks, clothing, and even scents—whether by the generality of the wording or the generality of the meaning.

ثَبَتَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ:  حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ دُنْيَاكُمْ: النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ

It is authentically reported from Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم that he said: "From your worldly affairs, women and perfume have been made beloved to me, and the delight of my eyes has been placed in prayer."

Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم frequently used perfume, and unpleasant odors greatly distressed him. He found them burdensome. Fragrance nourishes the soul, which serves as the vehicle of strength, and its effects are multiplied and enhanced through pleasant scents, much like the body benefits from food, drink, rest, joy, companionship with loved ones, experiencing delightful events, or the absence of things and people that cause distress.

Conversely, interactions with unpleasant people and those who bring discomfort or hostility burden the soul, weaken strength, and bring worry and sorrow. For the soul, this is akin to fever for the body or foul odors. For this reason, Allah instilled in the companions the habit of refraining from behaviors that would cause distress to Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. An example of this is Allah’s command:

إِذا دُعِيتُمْ فَادْخُلُوا، فَإِذا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِرُوا وَلا مُسْتَأْنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ إِنَّ ذلِكُمْ كانَ يُؤْذِي النَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحْيِي مِنْكُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ

"When you are invited, then enter, and when you have eaten, disperse without lingering for conversation. Verily, such (behavior) distresses the Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to leave), but Allah is not shy of (speaking) the truth." (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:53)

The point being emphasized is that perfume was among the most beloved things to the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. It has a significant impact on maintaining health, alleviating many pains and their causes, due to the strengthening of the natural disposition through its use.

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