The issue of how fragrances in foods and other products affect the state of iḥrām and its sanctity has long been a complex matter in Islamic jurisprudence. Multiple scholarly rulings and viewpoints exist on this topic, which sometimes appear contradictory to one another, leaving students of knowledge confused about which products can be used or consumed during the sacred state of iḥrām.
To address this complexity, we have attempted to synthesise various texts and present a systematic categorisation of different fragranced products and their permissible uses. We have developed a comprehensive reference guide (or reference chart) to help pilgrims easily identify potentially problematic products, thus enabling them to maintain their pilgrim sanctity with confidence.
We extend our gratitude to our diligent student, Mawlānā Muaaz, for his meticulous work in preparing and refining this guide. For scholarly verification, the complete texts of all relevant rulings have been included in the appendix. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvement to enhance the utility of this guide for pilgrims.
Abdur-Rahman Mangera
The Fatwa Centre
Whitethread Institute
25 May 2025 | 27 Dhū ’l-Qaʿdah
In the name of Allah, the Inspirer of truth.
For scholars supervising ḥajj or umrah groups, responding to queries about whether applying a certain substance or consuming a certain edible while in iḥrām is permitted, disliked, or prohibited, and if so, what the resultant penalty would be can be quite time-consuming and mentally demanding. This is often because the scholar has to sift through a whole host of rulings to determine which category of substance the questioner is asking about and which fragrance mentioned by the jurists in the books of law that it is potentially analogous to. For this reason, I wished to develop an easy, legally consistent and textually faithful framework by which a scholar can determine whether a particular item can be applied or consumed while in iḥrām, and if not, what the resultant penalty would be.
There are two flowcharts. The first is for the use of consumables while the second is for non-consumables. To use each flowchart, accurately determine what category of fragrance the substance falls into. Items that are not intended for consumption can fall into one of four categories regarding their nature as a fragrance or not. Those that are primarily fragrances result in a penalty regardless of the intent behind the use, while the ruling of those substances that merely contain primary fragrance or possess some traits of fragrances is influenced by the intention of the user, since these can have multiple usages. In any case, it is always safer to avoid all types of fragrance while in iḥrām. Items that are for consumption fall into only one of two categories: fragrance or not. This is because intention does not play a factor for consumables. Additionally, cooking a fragrance or mixing it with something cooked will render it equivalent to a non-fragrance.
After determining the appropriate category, follow the appropriate arrow based on the scenario at hand to reach the final ruling. Note that the numbers in brackets represent the references in the endnotes. I pray that Allah Most High accept this effort.
Muaaz Vahora
14/05/25 (Last updated)
Approved by:
Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel
