Question:
Asalaamualaykum
I would like to know if it’s permissible for woman to drive and if it goes against shariah ?
What are the limitations for being allowed to do so .
I would also like to know if a Muslim woman is allowed to wear perfume (not in the sense to attract others ) . For e.g if she has a body odour or condition that gives off an unpleasant scent . Can it be used to conceal that .
But would also like to know if it isn’t a condition , is it allowed
Jazakh-Allah
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Allah Ta’ala says:
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ (سورة الأحزاب: 33)
Translation:“And stay in your houses and do not adorn yourselves like in the times of ignorance”
(Surah Al-Ahzab, 33)
A female should stay within the confines of her home. She should not come outor emerge from her home without dire need and necessity.
If there is dire need and necessity, it will be permissible for a womanto drivewith the following conditions:
1) She adheres to the laws of Hijaab when she leaves the home.
2) If she is driving without the company of any of her Mahrams, then it should be less than 78kms.[i]
It is permissible for a woman to apply perfume in the presence of her husband.However, it is not permissible for women to apply perfume and go out of her house.[ii] To go out having applied perfume is severely condemned by Nabi SallallahuAlayhiWasallam. Consider the following Hadith:
عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِذَا اسْتَعْطَرَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَمَرَّتْ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ لِيَجِدُوا رِيحَهَا فَهِيَ كَذَا وَكَذَا ” . قَالَ قَوْلاً شَدِيدًا
(ابو داود: 4173)
Translation:Narrated AbuMusa:The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If a woman uses perfume and passes the people so that they may get its odour, she is so-and-so, meaning severe remarks.” (Abu-Dawud: 4173)
One may consider alternatives to overcome the bad odour. The use of unscented deodorant and antiperspirant may be useful
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hammad Ibn Ismail Jogiat
Student - Darul Iftaa
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
فتاوى قاسمية (ج:23 ص:576)[i]
المسائل المہمة فیما ابتلت بہ العامة (ج:11 ص:305)
تحفہ خواتین – حضرت مولانا مفتی محمد عاشق الہی بلند شہری صاحب (ص:552)
مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح (7/ 2823)
قال سعد: أراهم حملوا قوله: وطيب النساء على ما إذا أرادت أن تخرج، فأما إذا كانت عند زوجها فلتتطيب بما شاءت.
روي عن أبي موسى الأشعري عن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم: كل عين زانية، فالمرأة إذا استعطرت ومرت بالمجلس فهي كذا وكذا يعني زانية اهـ.
ويؤيده ما وقع في حديث آخر: ” «أيما امرأة أصابت بخورا فلا تشهد معنا العشاء» “
