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Can a woman pray in her house wearing perfume and jewellery?

22-03-2009

Question 21970

Can u plz answer if it is allowed for woman to have rings or bracelet on their hand when they are praying....and also is it okay if woman have perfume on them when they are praying in their own house by themself...or do they have to take perfume/rings..off

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

The concise answer is that a woman is permitted to pray wearing jewellery and perfume; doing that does not invalidate her prayer in any way. 

The detailed answer is that it is forbidden for her to wear perfume when going out to the mosque to pray. Muslim narrated in his Saheeh from Zaynab the wife of ‘Abd-Allaah, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘If any of you (women) attend the mosque, do not wear perfume.’” (al-Salaah, 674). Ibn Hajar said: “This also applies to other similar things, because the reason why perfume is forbidden is that it provokes desire in men, as do beautiful clothes, jewellery that is visible, fancy adornments and mixing with men.”

 It is clear that the reason why a woman is forbidden to wear perfume or wear adornments when going out to pray in the mosque is because of the consequences that may result, namely temptation and evil. 

Because a great deal of mischief is caused when women wear perfume when going to the mosque, this is forbidden when she is going out. This problem is not present when she does that (wears perfume) at home, so it is not forbidden, and that does not affect her prayer. And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

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