Question: 
What is the ruling concerning applying perfumes that are available in the market nowadays? What is the ruling of performing salah after applying such perfumes? Please answer in details. It would be highly appreciated.
Answer: حامدا ومصليا ومسلما
Nowadays the perfumes and scents that are produced in foreign countries and imported (to India) mostly contain alcohol. There are some details concerning their permissibility or impermissibility.
If the alcohol is fermented from dates or grapes then it is impure. Therefore it would be impermissible to use it. If the alcohol is made from any other clean source beside grapes and dates then it will be pure. Its external usage would be permissible in Shariah.
Nowadays the alcohol that is used in perfumes is usually not produced from dates or grapes. Rather it is fermented from other sources like corn, barley, wheat, plum, potatoes, rice and petrol etc. Such perfumes are not impure. Therefore one’s clothing will not become impure by applying it.
In conclusion, to use such perfumes is permissible and if someone applies it to his/her clothes and performs salah, the salah will be valid and there is no need to repeat it.
(Awrat ke lie banaaw singaar kaa sharee ahkaam p. 57-58)
The following is mentioned in “Behishti Zewar” 9/102 (Heavenly Ornaments 2/302):
“If the spirit is not made from grapes, raisins, dry or fresh dates, a concession in its impermissibility can be given (because of the difference of opinion). If it is made from the above-mentioned fruit, it will not be permissible because all the ulama are unanimous in this regard.”
In “Ahsanul Fataawa” (2/95) the following is mentioned:
“After research we realize that grapes and dates are not used to ferment alcohol and spirit nowadays. Therefore it will be pure according to Shaikhain (Abu Hanifah & Abu Yusuf). Even though the fuqahaa had given fatwa upon imam Muhammad’s view due to the spiritually degenerate era, the fatwa will be given on Shaikhain’s opinion concerning purity due to the dire need in medicine and the wide spread affliction (عموم البلوى) of our times. After-all, according to the principles of fatwa the opinions of Shaikhain are usually preferred unless there is reason to make an exception.”
The Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband, Hazrat Mufti Nizamuddeen Saheb (عليه الرحمة) has also permitted its usage and trade in his conclusion of a lengthy discussion.
(See Fataawaa Nizaamiyyah 1/438)
The grand Mufti of Gujarat, Hazrat Mufti Ismail Bismillah (عليه الرحمة) has also given permission to use it.
(See Fataawaa Sangrah Gujarati 2/85)
And Allah Ta’aalaa knows best
(Hazrat Mufti) Ahmed Khanpuri (May Allah preserve him)
The answer is correct.
(Mufti) Abbas Dawud Bismillah (May Allah preserve him)
Mahmoodul Fataawaa (1/362-364)
