He ﷺ also instructed ʿĀʾishah to bathe for ihram while she was menstruating. The purpose of this bath is to cleanse the body, remove unpleasant odours, and lighten the state of minor ritual impurity for women who are menstruating or in post-partum bleeding.

Second: It is recommended for the person who intends to assume ihram to groom himself by removing whatever hair is normally legislated to be removed—such as trimming the moustache and removing the hair of the armpits and pubic area—according to what actually needs attention, so that he will not need to do so while in ihram and be unable to. If nothing needs to be removed, then nothing should be removed, for these acts are done only when necessary; they are not specific to ihram but prescribed according to need.

Third: It is recommended for the one entering ihram to apply perfume to his body with whatever fragrances are available, such as musk, incense, rose-water, or agarwood, for ʿĀʾishah said: “I used to perfume the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for his ihram before he assumed it, and for his release from ihram before he circumambulated the House.”

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) said: “If the pilgrim wishes to perfume his body, that is good; however, no instruction is given to the pilgrim to do so before assuming ihram, for the Prophet ﷺ did it himself but did not command the people to do it.”