—that which contains no adornment. If she is compelled to use kohl that does beautify, many scholars permitted it, including Salim ibn Abd Allah, Sulayman ibn Yasar, Ata, and al-Nakha‘i. This was also the view of Malik and the adherents of juristic opinion. Al-Shafi‘i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “She may apply it at night and wipe it off during the day.”

Umm Salama said: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, entered upon me when Abu Salama had died, and I had applied aloes to myself. He said, ‘It makes the face appear youthful, (1) so apply it only at night and remove it during the day.’” (2)

She may not dye herself with henna, nor wear embroidered garments, silk brocade, or jewellery. She may wear white clothing, as well as wool and camel hair. She may not wear garments dyed for adornment, such as red, bright green, or yellow; but garments dyed for purposes other than adornment, such as black and dark blue, are permitted. Sufyan said: “She must not wear dyed garments under any circumstances.”

Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus‘ab informed us, from Malik, from Abd Allah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Umar ibn Hazm, from Humayd ibn Nafi‘, from Zaynab bint Abi Salama, that she related these three hadiths to him. Zaynab said: “I entered upon Umm Habiba, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when her father, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, had died. Umm Habiba called for a yellow-coloured perfume, a saffron-based perfume or something similar. A servant-girl applied some of it, and Umm Habiba then touched her own abdomen with it. She then said: ‘By Allah, I have no need of perfume; but I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say from the pulpit: “It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to observe mourning for a deceased person for more than three nights, except for her husband: four months and ten days.”’” (3)

Zaynab said: “Then I entered upon Zaynab bint Jahsh when her brother Abd Allah had died. She called for perfume and touched herself with it. Then she said: ‘By Allah, I have no need of perfume; but I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say from the pulpit: “It is not lawful for a woman to observe mourning for a deceased person for more than three nights, except for her husband: four months and ten days.”’”

Zaynab said: “And I heard my mother, Umm Salama, say: ‘A woman came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, my daughter’s husband has died, and she has complained of an eye ailment. May she apply kohl?” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied: “No.” Then he said: “It is only four months and ten days, whereas in the Age of Ignorance one of you would cast away a pellet of dung at the completion of the year.”’” (4)

Humayd said: “I asked Zaynab, ‘What did it mean that she would cast away a pellet of dung at the completion of the year?’”