Does Using Scented Soap in Ihram Require a Sacrifice Penalty (Dam)?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

During ihram, does washing one’s hands and feet with scented soap for the purpose of cleaning (not perfuming) require a dam?

If a sacrifice is required and one cannot afford it, is there an alternative expiation, or must it be performed once one becomes financially able?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health.

If the purpose of using scented soap is to clean, rather than perfume, then one will give sadaqa. Otherwise, one will have to give a sacrifice penalty (dam) if they used it to perfume their body.

You owe a donation of about 2.2. kg of wheat or its equivalent in monetary value to a poor person. This donation is not specific to any location, unlike the animal sacrifice penalty (dam), which must be performed within the Sacred Precinct (haram) if necessary. You can pay the penalty (dam) when you are able to, if you are unable to do so immediately.

Generally, soap’s purpose is cleaning, not scent. In this scenario, there is no dam (sacrifice penalty), but sadaqa fitr should be given as compensation. Many scentless soaps can be used during ihram. [Ibn ’Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction insha’Allah.

Related

• Touching the Black Stone and Cutting One’s Own Hair to Leave Ihram – SeekersGuidance
• ‘Umra Archives – SeekersGuidance

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance? You can choose from the Islamic Studies Curriculum and progress through each course step by step.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Currently, he resides in the UK with his wife and is interested in reading and gardening.