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The question

What is the ruling on a woman whose husband has passed away smelling basil and "barak," and drinking mint and anise?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

First: It is not permissible for a woman observing 'iddah (waiting period) after her husband's death to use perfume (طيب) on her body or clothes. There is no dispute regarding the prohibition of touching perfume. Scholars differed concerning smelling perfume; some permitted it, while others said that smelling it is treated like touching it. The correct view is that it is not permissible for a woman observing 'iddah or a pilgrim (مُحْرِم) to intentionally smell perfume, whether by smelling it directly or by approaching a perfumed place.

Second: If perfume is mixed with food or drink, and its effect is apparent in terms of smell and taste, then it is not permissible to consume them. If its effect is not apparent, then there is no harm in consuming them.

Third: Mint and anise are not perfumes (طيب), and there is no harm for a woman observing 'iddah or a pilgrim in using or drinking them, because the prohibited perfume is that whose primary purpose is adornment.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

Read the full answer on Ftawy
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
7748
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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