because that would cause me hardship I cannot bear, or I fear falling ill if the days are cold?”
We say: In that case, wear a shirt if you cannot wrap it around yourself, and offer an expiation; for when a person needs to do something prohibited, he may do so and then offer an expiation, as in the hadith of Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah, may Allah be pleased with him (1).
If he applies perfume to his body or clothing, uses scented oil, smells perfume, or burns incense with aloeswood or the like, he must offer an expiation.
His statement, “If he applies perfume to his body or clothing”: this is the fifth of the prohibitions of ihram, namely perfume. Not everything with a pleasant fragrance is considered perfume. Rather, perfume is that which is customarily prepared for use as fragrance. Accordingly, apples, mint, and similar things with a pleasant scent that people find appealing are not considered perfume. Perfume is only that which is used for scenting oneself, such as aloeswood oil, musk, basil, roses, and the like. It is not permissible for a person in ihram to use such things.
The evidence for this is that the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said: “Do not wear any garment that has been touched by saffron or wars.” (2) Saffron is a perfume.
But someone may say: Saffron is more specific than merely being a perfume, for it is both a fragrance and a dye, whereas we hold that every kind of perfume is forbidden to a person in ihram.
The response is that the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said regarding the man whose camel threw him down at ‘Arafah: