Does the scent of perfume break the fast, and does inhaling it also break the fast? And what about the scent of agarwood and incense?
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The questioner : Does the scent of perfume break the fast? And does inhaling it also break the fast? And I ask about the scent of agarwood or incense, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes. The scent of perfume does not break the fast, even if a person inhales this perfume, it does not break the fast, because nothing rises to his body except the mere scent.
As for inhaling with water, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to al-Qayt ibn Shabrah (may Allah be pleased with him):Sunan Abi Dawud 142Sahih (Al-Albani) So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) excluded exaggeration in inhaling during fasting, because if one inhales water, the water enters his stomach. For this reason, he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 2366Sahih (Al-Albani).
As for incense, there is no harm in a person using it to perfume himself, or perfuming his clothes, or perfuming his head, but he should not inhale it, because if he inhales it, something of the smoke rises to his stomach, and smoke has substance, so it is like water. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to al-Qayt:Sunan Abi Dawud 2366Sahih (Al-Albani) Furthermore, it has been established from a medical standpoint that inhaling smoke is harmful to the airways, whether it is incense or not.
Based on this, it is not recommended to inhale it, neither during fasting nor during non-fasting. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. We conclude this episode, O honorable Shaykh, with the second question from the listener Umm Hana from Riyadh.
The Shaykh : Yes. The scent of perfume does not break the fast, even if a person inhales this perfume, it does not break the fast, because nothing rises to his body except the mere scent.
As for inhaling with water, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to al-Qayt ibn Shabrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
Perform ablution in full and make the fingers go through the beard and snuff with water well except when you are fasting.
أسبغ الوضوء، وخلّل بين الأصابع، وبالغ في الاستنشاق إلا أن تكون صائماًunless you are fasting
إلا أن تكون صائماًAs for incense, there is no harm in a person using it to perfume himself, or perfuming his clothes, or perfuming his head, but he should not inhale it, because if he inhales it, something of the smoke rises to his stomach, and smoke has substance, so it is like water. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to al-Qayt:
Snuff up water freely unless you are fasting.
بالغ في الاستنشاق إلا أن تكون صائماًBased on this, it is not recommended to inhale it, neither during fasting nor during non-fasting. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. We conclude this episode, O honorable Shaykh, with the second question from the listener Umm Hana from Riyadh.