Masjid Administration and Maintenance

Women Going to Mosque for Tarawih While Perfumed

Shaykh Muqbil ibn Hadi al-Wadi’i explains that women may attend the mosque for Tarawih, but they must be without makeup and perfume. The Prophet ﷺ permitted women to go to the mosque only if they are unadorned and not attractive to others.

September 6, 2016

Questioner:

What is the ruling on women going to the masjid to pray tarāwīḥ while made-up and perfumed, believing that this is acting upon the statement of Allāh ;

۞ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ

‘Take your adornment to every masjid’ (Q 7:31)

Shaykh Muqbil ibn Hādī al-Wādiʿī:

The Prophet authorised the women to leave their homes for the purpose of attending the masjid for the evening (ʿishā) prayer with the condition that they are unadorned – meaning unattractive and not perfumed clothing. Abū Hurayrah said that the Prophet said, “If a woman puts on perfume and her fragrance can be smelt, then she is adulteress.”