Hajj Question: Toothpaste, Deodorant, Soaps, an Suntan lotion

September 4, 2010

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Question

I was wondering if it is permissable to use in ihram:

1.toothpaste, 2.unperfumed deodarant, 3.unperfumed soap, 4.suntan protection cream if one fears being burned due to having very fair skin.

also, when I went for umrah, I mistakenly removed my ihram before having my hair cut. does this necessitate an epiation?

Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.

Although it is permitted to use un-perfumed deodorant, un-perfumed soap, it is better to avoid them totally during the ihram. Un-perfumed suntan lotion would be permissible in times of necessity for those who need to use it. Hajj is nowadays in relatively cooler weather.

It would be permissible to use toothpaste that does not contain too much of a minty taste and fragrance. However, a tooth-stick (miswak) is most preferable.

Remember this is the ruling for a person during the state of Ihram, i.e. for the five days of hajj (or more) while the person is in pilgrim sanctity. The reason for this is that the spirit of hajj is to remain in an unkempt un-groomed state; where a person makes the appearance of someone lost in the love of worshipping Allah and has forgotten everything else.

Ibn ‘Umar narrates that a person approached the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam and asked, “Who is a pilgrim?” He told him, “The one who is in a disheveled unkempt state [al-sha’th], the one who is un-perfumed (al-tafil).

“Al-tafil” actually means a person whose body odor has changed due to neglecting the use of perfume. Outside the Ihram, it is permitted to use the above mentioned items.

As for taking your ihram of before cutting the hair, this needs more clarification. Could you explain what was meant by taking the ihram off?

And Allah knows best.
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf

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Dr. Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Dr. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera is a British Muslim scholar educated in both the Islamic and Western traditions. He memorised the Qur’an by heart and graduated from the Darul Uloom seminary Bury, UK, and later earned a specialised licence to issue fatwa (legal responses) at Mazahir ‘Ulum Saharanpur, India. He earned his BA from the University of Johannesburg and completed his MA and PhD in Islamic Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He holds an honorary fellowship at The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan. Shaykh Abdur-Rahman has the unique experience of serving as an imam in Muslim communities on both sides of the Atlantic, eight years in Southern California and over five in the great city of London—and his continued work as an international speaker and lecturer enables him to address and offer pertinent advice on current challenges that face Muslims in the West. He is the founder of Whitethread Institute, a post-graduate insititute for Islamic scholars. He is an avid traveller and continues to teach hadith and work on scholarly publications through White Thread Press (www.whitethreadpress.com). Many of his lectures are available on www.zamzamacademy.com and his courses through Rayyan Institute (www.rayyaninstitute.com).