The Ruling on Rinsing the Mouth, Sniffing Water, Bathing, and Applying Oil for the Fasting Person

This message is from Yemen, sent by (M. A. A.), and it reached us at the end of the month of Muharram of this year, 1421. He says: To begin with, I am a woman who regularly listens to the successful program "Light on the Path." I ask Allah for further success and general good for it. I hope that Allah will reward the scholars who answer our questions and inquiries, and guide them. I ask you to be kind enough to answer the following questions: They say that these actions break the fast if we do them during the time of 'Asr:
First: Rinsing the mouth during the ablution for the 'Asr prayer.
Second: Bathing with water or with water and soap.
Third: Oiling the hair or any part of the body used in ablution, or smelling perfume. We ask for information on this.
Answer: None of these break the fast of the fasting person. Rinsing the mouth after 'Asr or during the day does not break the fast and does not harm the fast. Indeed, Allah has prescribed rinsing the mouth in the ablution and the full bath, so it does not harm the fast. Likewise, bathing after 'Asr or during the forenoon or after Dhuhr, none of this harms the fasting person. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) bathed while fasting, and he rinsed his mouth while fasting. 'Umar asked him about the qublah (scented water) for the fasting person, and he informed him that it is like rinsing the mouth, because it does not harm the fasting person. The qublah is like rinsing the mouth, and like cleaning with soap; none of this harms the fasting person. Likewise, oiling the limbs, oiling the head with oil or other oils, none of this harms the fasting person. Likewise, smelling perfume. Smelling perfume that is not ground into powder, such as types of fragrance from agarwood or rose, is permissible. But if it is ground into powder, like ground musk, then this flies into the brain, so it should be left. It should be avoided by the fasting person. Likewise, incense should not be sniffed by the fasting person, because some scholars consider it to break the fast. It should be avoided to sniff agarwood incense, and to sniff perfume that is ground into powder, like ground musk, because its particles fly to the brain, and it breaks the fast according to some scholars. It should be avoided.