Applying Itr to a deceased female

Question:-

Please advise if Itr can be applied to a deceased female after Ghusl has been completed?

Answer:-

The Kitaabs of Fiqh state that ‘Hanut’, which is a combination of various fragrances, is applied to the hair of a female. Similarly, it is applied to the hair and beard of a male. However, some Kitaabs of Fiqh state that Itr can be applied to the entire body of the deceased. It is, perhaps, on this basis that the Kafn is first scented with ‘Hanut’ in many places and the deceased is thereafter wrapped in the Kafn, so that the scent may reach the entire body. Also, by applying scent to the Kafn first, there is no need to expose the Satr with the sole objective of scenting it, hence, resulting in more concealment. This brings us to the conclusion that scent may be used for females. However, since the camphor that is applied to various limbs of the body does have a strong fragrance, additional scent is generally not required nor used in the female Kafn in our country, albeit it being permissible.

Re:- Fataawa Rahimiyyah pg.61/62 Vol.7

ويوضع الحنوط في راسه ولحيته وسائر جسده – وفي السغناقي : الحنوط عطر مركب من اشاء طيبة (الفتاوي التاتارخانية ص20 ج3 رقم 3653)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 14 Jumadal Ukhra 1444 / 07 January 2023