What is attar and why do Muslim men wear it?
Attar is a concentrated, oil-based perfume, usually made without alcohol. Muslim men wear it because the Prophet ﷺ loved good scent, and smelling pleasant is a sunnah, especially for Friday prayer, the mosque and Eid.
What attar is
Attar (also spelled ittar or itr) comes from an Arabic and Persian word for fragrance. It's traditionally made by distilling flowers, wood or resin into a base oil. Popular scents include oud (agarwood), musk, rose, amber and sandalwood. It comes in tiny bottles with a glass roller or stick, and a dab or two lasts for hours. You'll find it at mosque stalls, Muslim shops and online.
Why Muslim men wear it
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Made beloved to me from your world are women and perfume, and the coolness of my eyes is in prayer" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3939). He never turned down a gift of perfume (Sahih al-Bukhari 2582), and he called musk the best of perfumes (Sahih Muslim 2252). So wearing a nice scent isn't vanity; it's following him.
It's also part of Friday. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever takes a bath on Friday, cleans himself as best he can, oils his hair or puts on perfume, then goes to the prayer and listens quietly, will be forgiven the sins between that Friday and the previous one (Sahih al-Bukhari 883). See What are the sunnahs of Friday?
Why oil instead of spray?
- No alcohol worries. Most attars are alcohol-free, which many converts find reassuring. Most scholars actually allow perfume with synthetic alcohol, but some avoid it to be safe. See Is perfume with alcohol haram?
- Lasts longer and sits close to the skin, so it isn't overpowering.
- Travels well: a small bottle fits in a pocket for the mosque or work.
Men and women differ here
Men are encouraged to wear scent in public, including the mosque. For women, scholars advise not wearing strong perfume around unrelated men, though at home and among women it's encouraged. See Can Muslim women wear perfume in public? Men should still be considerate: a heavy oud in a packed prayer row can give people headaches.
- Attar is an oil-based, usually alcohol-free perfume.
- The Prophet ﷺ loved perfume and never refused it.
- Wearing scent is a sunnah of Friday and the mosque.
- Use a light touch so you don't overwhelm others.
People also ask
Can Muslim men remove body hair?
Yes, Muslim men can remove most body hair. Pubic and armpit hair removal is sunnah; chest, back and leg hair is allowed. Keep the beard.
Read the full answer →Can Muslim men wear nail polish?
Generally no, most scholars say Muslim men shouldn't wear nail polish: it's seen as women's adornment and it blocks water, so wudu isn't valid.
Read the full answer →Can Muslim men wear makeup?
It depends: Muslim men may use concealer, tinted SPF or stage makeup, but glam makeup like lipstick counts as imitating women for most scholars.
Read the full answer →Can Muslim men shave their legs for sports?
Yes, Muslim men can shave their legs for sports. Leg hair is neutral in Islam; just avoid imitating women and keep your awrah private.
Read the full answer →Can Muslim men pluck their eyebrows?
Most scholars say Muslim men can't pluck or shape their eyebrows for looks, but many allow trimming long hairs and removing a unibrow.
Read the full answer →