Tafilaat
Q1. What is the meaning of Tafilaat?
A1. We assume that you are referring to the following Hadith:
عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – قال: لا تمنعوا إماء الله مساجد الله، ولكن ليخرجن وهن تفلات (صحيح مسلم #900)
It is reported from Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Do not prevent the female servants of Allah Ta’ala from the Masaajid of Allah Ta’ala, but let them go out (for necessities) in such a state they are not beautified.”
Allamah Ibn Hajar Asqalaani Rahimahullah states in his commentary of Bukhari Shareef that the meaning of Tafilaat is that a woman should not come out in such a condition that she adorns herself with perfume, and any such adornment which will be a means of attraction towards her. The same commentary is given by Allamah Anwar Sha Kashmiri Rahimahullah.
قَوْله وليخرجن تفلات التفل بِفَتْح الْفَاء الرَّائِحَة الكريهة وَالْمرَاد أَن لَا يتطيبن يُقَال هُوَ تفل أَي غير متطيب (فتح الباري 1/93)
وَلْيَخْرُجْنَ تَفِلَاتٍ قُلْتُ هُوَ بِفَتْحِ الْمُثَنَّاةِ وَكَسْرِ الْفَاءِ أَيْ غَيْرَ مُتَطَيِّبَاتٍ وَيُقَالُ امْرَأَةٌ تَفِلَةٌ إِذَا كَانَتْ مُتَغَيِّرَةَ الرِّيحِ وَهُوَ عِنْدَ أَبِي دَاوُدَ وبن خُزَيْمَة من حَدِيث أبي هُرَيْرَة وَعند بن حِبَّانَ مِنْ حَدِيثِ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَأَوَّلُهُ لَا تَمْنَعُوا إِمَاءَ اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ وَلِمُسْلِمٍ من حَدِيث زَيْنَب امْرَأَة بن مَسْعُودٍ إِذَا شَهِدَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَا تَمَسَّنَّ طِيبًا انْتَهَى قَالَ وَيَلْحَقُ بِالطِّيبِ مَا فِي مَعْنَاهُ لِأَنَّ سَبَبَ الْمَنْعِ مِنْهُ مَا فِيهِ مِنْ تَحْرِيكِ دَاعِيَةِ الشَّهْوَةِ كَحُسْنِ الْمَلْبَسِ وَالْحُلِيِّ الَّذِي يَظْهَرُ وَالزِّينَةِ الْفَاخِرَةِ وَكَذَا الِاخْتِلَاطُ بِالرِّجَالِ (فتح الباري 2/349)
وفي حديث آخر: «إنْ كان لا بُدَّ لَهُنَّ مِن الخروجِ فليخرجن تَفِلاتٍ بدونِ زينةٍ، فلا يَتَعَطَّرْنَ، فإِن فَعَلْن فهنَّ كذا وكذا». يعني زوانٍ (فيض الباري 3/118)
Q2. When women leave their homes for necessities, must they be in a state of Tafilaat?
A2. Yes, when women leave their homes for necessities, they should also come out in the state mentioned above. In fact, in principle, a woman should only emerge from her home due to necessity. Hence, the above-mentioned Hadith advises us that when a woman comes out of her home (due to necessity), then she should emerge as described in the above manner. Women should not come out unnecessarily as Allah Ta’ala commands them in the Quraan Majeed:
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ )الأحزاب آ:33)
“Remain in your homes and do not make a display of yourselves as was the practice of the former period of ignorance.”
Q3. Are there any exceptions to the Tafilaat ruling, or is it something general imposed upon all women at all times when they come out of their houses?
A3. The above-mentioned Hadith is general, therefore, it will apply to all women at all times, whenever they come out of their homes. We have not found any exclusions mentioned in the commentaries as well.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 17 Shawwaal 1446 / 16 April 2025
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb