Add Some Scent To Your Life
On one occasion Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam sat in Masjidun Nabawee with the Sahaba Radiyallahu Anhu around him. They asked him: "O Nabi of Allah, are there any things from this world that is beloved to you?" Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied: "Three things have been made beloved to me: 1) Perfume 2)Women and 3) the coolness of my eyes is Salaah."{ Nasa'i}
Nabi Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam would apply Itr at different times of the day as well as for different occasions. He would apply Itr when he would meet delegations, when going to the Masjid for Salaah, when going for the Jum'ah Salaah and for the Eid Salaah. He would also apply Itr in the latter portion of the night when he would awake to perform the Tahujjud Salaah.
There are different types of Itr that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would use. He would use Oud and Mask. Sometimes he would mix these two. He would also use Amber, fragrant flowers(Raihana) and spoke highly about the rose. He said: "If someone presents a flower to you, you should never refuse it. Sometimes Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would mix Oud, Musk and Amber with olive oil.
Never the less, if we use any sweet smelling fragrance we will be fulfilling the Sunnah of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. However, we should try and use the fore-mentioned types of Itr as the more we follow the Sunnah the closer we will be to Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Yusuf Moosagie-8th November 2012