Kindness & Mercy

ثَلَاثٌ أُعْطِيَهُنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ع الْعِطْرُ وَ الْأَزْوَاجُ وَ السِّوَاكُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three things were given to the Prophets. They are perfumes, marriage and toothbrushes.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ حَقٌّ عَلَى كُلِّ مُحْتَلِمٍ‌[1] فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ أَخْذُ شَارِبِهِ وَ أَظْفَارِهِ وَ مَسُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الطِّيبِ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ طِيبٌ دَعَا بِبَعْضِ خُمُرِ نِسَائِهِ فَبَلَّهَا بِالْمَاءِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَهَا عَلَى وَجْهِهِ.

‘It is a right on every adult Muslim to trim his mustache every Friday, cut his fingernails and apply perfume. The Messenger of Allah, on Friday, when he could not find perfumes, soaked the scarf of one of his wives with water, then placed it on his face.’”

كَانَ يُعْرَفُ مَوْضِعُ سُجُودِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِطِيبِ رِيحِهِ.

“One could recognize the [place of Sujud (prostrations)] of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), because of its perfumes.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ لِي حَبِيبِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع تَطَيَّبْ يَوْماً وَ يَوْماً لَا وَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ وَ لَا تَتْرُكْ لَهُ‌[2].

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘My friend Jibril has told me to apply perfume one day and not on the next day. On Friday it is necessary and it must not be ignored.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لِيَتَطَيَّبْ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ لَوْ مِنْ قَارُورَةِ امْرَأَتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘On Friday you must apply perfume: even if it is from the perfumes of your wives.’”

قَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَدْ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَدَعَ الطِّيبَ وَ أَشْيَاءَ ذَكَرَهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَدَعِ الطِّيبَ فَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْتَنْشِقُ رِيحَ الطِّيبِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَلَا تَدَعِ الطِّيبَ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, “Uthman ibn Maz‘un once said to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, “I had decided to give up certain things, of which one is perfumes and other things.” The Messenger of Allah said, ‘You must not give u

الطِّيبُ فِي الشَّارِبِ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع وَ كَرَامَةٌ لِلْكَاتِبَيْنِ.

‘Applying perfume is of moral discipline of the Prophets and honoring the scribes (the two angels on one’s shoulders).”’

مَا أَنْفَقْتَ فِي الطِّيبِ فَلَيْسَ بِسَرَفٍ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Your spending for perfumes is not useless spending. 5 ”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ طِيبُ النِّسَاءِ مَا ظَهَرَ لَوْنُهُ وَ خَفِيَ رِيحُهُ وَ طِيبُ الرِّجَالِ مَا ظَهَرَ رِيحُهُ وَ خَفِيَ لَوْنُهُ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Perfume for women is that which shows its color but hides its fragrance, and the perfume for men is that which spreads its fragrance but its color does not show.’””

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُنْفِقُ فِي الطِّيبِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُنْفِقُ فِي الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, spent more on perfumes than his spending on food.”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ قَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ الْكَرَامَةَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who refuses to accept perfumes. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for him to reject an honor.”’

أُتِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِدُهْنٍ وَ قَدْ كَانَ ادَّهَنَ فَادَّهَنَ فَقَالَ إِنَّا لَا نَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once oil was brought to ’Amir al-Mu’minin when he had already applied oil (perfume). He applied the oil offered to him saying, “We do not reject perfumes.’””

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَأَخْرَجَ إِلَيَّ مَخْزَنَةً فِيهَا مِسْكٌ وَ قَالَ خُذْ مِنْ هَذَا فَأَخَذْتُ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً فَتَمَسَّحْتُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَصْلِحْ وَ اجْعَلْ فِي لَبَّتِكَ مِنْهُ‌[1] قَالَ فَأَخَذْتُ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا فَجَعَلْتُهُ‌ فِي لَبَّتِي فَقَالَ لِي أَصْلِحْ‌[1] فَأَخَذْتُ مِنْهُ أَيْضاً فَمَكَثَ فِي يَدِي مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ صَالِحٌ فَقَالَ لِي اجْعَلْ فِي لَبَّتِكَ فَفَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِ

“I once visited abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He took out a container with musk in it and said, ‘Apply it and place in your nostril.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I took a little and applied to my nostrils.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Apply more.’ I then took more from it and something from it remained on my hand. He (the Imam) said

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص كَانَ لَا يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ وَ الْحَلْوَاءَ[2].

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would not refuse to accept perfume and sweet (fruit).”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الطِّيبُ الْمِسْكُ وَ الْعَنْبَرُ وَ الزَّعْفَرَانُ وَ الْعُودُ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Of perfumes are, musk, ambergris, saffron and aloe wood/”

لَمَّا أُهْبِطَ آدَمُ ع مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ عَلَى الصَّفَا وَ حَوَّاءُ عَلَى الْمَرْوَةِ وَ قَدْ كَانَتِ امْتَشَطَتْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بِطِيبٍ مِنْ طِيبِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمَّا صَارَتْ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالَتْ مَا أَرْجُو مِنَ الْمَشْطِ وَ أَنَا مَسْخُوطٌ عَلَيَّ فَحَلَّتْ عَقِيصَتَهَا[3] فَانْتَثَرَ مِنْ مُشْطَتِهَا الَّتِي كَانَتِ امْتَشَطَتْ بِهَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَطَارَتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فَأَلْقَتْ أَكْثَرَهُ بِالْهِنْدِ فَلِذَل

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When Adam (a.s.), came down from the garden (paradises) at al-Safa’ and Eve on al-Marwah, she wore a hairstyle from the garden (paradise) with the perfume of the garden (paradise). When she turned on earth she said, ‘I have no hope in this hairstyling while I am being angered at.’ She

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَصْلِ الطِّيبِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ فَقَالَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَقُولُهُ النَّاسُ قُلْتُ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ آدَمَ هَبَطَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ إِكْلِيلٌ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَ وَ اللَّهِ أَشْغَلَ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ إِكْلِيلٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ حَوَّاءَ امْتَشَطَتْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بِطِيبٍ مِنْ طِيبِ الْجَنَّةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوَاقِعَهَا الْخَطِيئَةُ فَلَمَّا هَبَطَتْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ حَل

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about the origin of perfumes and from where it has come. He (the Imam) asked, ‘What do people say about it?’ I replied, ‘They think that when Adam, Alayhi al-Salam, came down from the garden (paradises) he had a crown on his head.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘By Allah his preoccu

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَمَّا أَهْبَطَ آدَمَ طَفِقَ يَخْصِفُ مِنْ وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ فَطَارَ عَنْهُ لِبَاسُهُ الَّذِي كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَالْتَقَطَ وَرَقَةً فَسَتَرَ بِهَا عَوْرَتَهُ فَلَمَّا هَبَطَ عَبِقَتْ‌[1] رَائِحَةُ تِلْكَ الْوَرَقَةِ- بِالْهِنْدِ بِالنَّبْتِ فَصَارَ الطِّيبُ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ سَبَبِ تِلْكَ الْوَرَقَةِ الَّتِي عَبِقَتْ بِهَا رَائِحَةُ الْجَنَّةِ فَمِنْ هُنَاكَ الطِّيبُ بِالْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when Allah sent Adam, Alayhi al-Salam, down, he began to hold the leaves of the garden (paradises) to himself, and his clothes which were of the dresses of the garden (paradises) that he wore flew away from him. He picked up a leaf to cover his private parts. When he came

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَتْ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع أَشْبِيدَانَةُ[2] رَصَاصٍ مُعَلَّقَةٌ فِيهَا مِسْكٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ وَ لَبِسَ ثِيَابَهُ تَنَاوَلَهَا وَ أَخْرَجَ مِنْهَا فَتَمَسَّحَ بِهِ.

Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, had an Ashbidana (musk container) of lead that was kept hanging with musk in it and when he wanted to go out he dressed up, took that container and musk to take musk thereof and rubbed on himself.’” (Ashbidana is an Arabicized word from the farsi word Mushk-dan )

‌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَتَطَيَّبُ بِالْمِسْكِ حَتَّى يُرَى وَبِيصُهُ فِي مَفَارِقِهِ‌[1]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to your cause, would use musk and its marks could be found on his joints.’”

كَانَتْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مُمَسَّكَةٌ إِذَا هُوَ تَوَضَّأَ أَخَذَهَا بِيَدِهِ وَ هِيَ رَطْبَةٌ فَكَانَ إِذَا خَرَجَ عَرَفُوا أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِرَائِحَتِهِ.

had a musk container. When making wudu he would take it in his hand while wet. When coming out people noticed his coming because of the perfume and fragrance.’”

أَخْرَجَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع مَخْزَنَةً فِيهَا مِسْكٌ مِنْ عَتِيدَةِ آبَنُوسٍ‌[2] فِيهَا بُيُوتٌ كُلُّهَا مِمَّا يَتَّخِذُهَا النِّسَاءُ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once took out for me a musk container in which there was musk in an Abnus (a container made of a certain wood) container which had sections with things that women keep.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمِسْكِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ اشْتِمَامُهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّا لَنَشَمُّهُ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Muttalib ibn Ziyad from abu Bakr ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Ash‘ariy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about smelling musk. He (the Imam) said, ‘We smell it.’”

كَانَتْ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قَارُورَةُ مِسْكٍ فِي مَسْجِدِهِ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ لِلصَّلَاةِ أَخَذَ مِنْهُ فَتَمَسَّحَ بِهِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, had a bottle of musk in the Masjid. When he came for Salat (prayer) he would take it and rub on himself.’”

كَانَ يُرَى وَبِيصُ الْمِسْكِ فِي مَفْرِقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, that marks and traces of musk could be seen on the joints of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمِسْكِ فِي الدُّهْنِ أَ يَصْلُحُ قَالَ إِنِّي لَأَصْنَعُهُ فِي الدُّهْنِ وَ لَا بَأْسَ. - وَ رُوِيَ‌ أَنَّهُ لَا بَأْسَ بِصُنْعِ الْمِسْكِ فِي الطَّعَامِ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) about musk and if it can be applied with oil. He (the Imam) said, ‘I apply it with oil and it is not harmful.’ It is narrated that it is not harmful to use musk with food.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أُعَامِلُ التُّجَّارَ فَأَتَهَيَّأُ لِلنَّاسِ كَرَاهَةَ أَنْ يَرَوْا بِي خَصَاصَةً فَأَتَّخِذُ الْغَالِيَةَ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ إِنَّ الْقَلِيلَ مِنَ الْغَالِيَةِ يُجْزِئُ وَ كَثِيرَهَا سَوَاءً مَنِ اتَّخَذَ مِنَ الْغَالِيَةِ قَلِيلًا دَائِماً أَجْزَأَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ وَ أَنَا أَشْتَرِي مِنْهَا فِي السَّنَةِ بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَأَكْتَفِي بِهَا وَ رِيحُهَا ثَابِتٌ ط

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that I work with the merchants and prepare myself for people because of my dislike for their seeing me as a destitute person; if I can use al-Ghaliyah. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Ishaq, a small amount of it is enough just like a large amount. If one uses a small amount of al-Ghaliyah

أَمَرَنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَعَمِلْتُ لَهُ دُهْناً فِيهِ مِسْكٌ وَ عَنْبَرٌ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ فِي قِرْطَاسٍ- آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ أُمَّ الْكِتَابِ وَ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ وَ قَوَارِعَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ‌[2] وَ أَجْعَلَهُ بَيْنَ الْغِلَافِ وَ الْقَارُورَةِ فَفَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بِهِ فَتَغَلَّفَ بِهِ وَ أَنَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), once commanded me to prepare for him oil mixed with musk and ambergris and write on paper verse 2:255, ’Umm al-Kitab, al-Ma‘udhatayn and al-Qawari’ (verse that crush Satan) from al-Quran; then place it in a cover in a bottle. I did as I was told to do. I then brought it to him (the Imam

خَرَجَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع لَيْلَةً وَ عَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ وَ كِسَاءُ خَزٍّ قَدْ غَلَفَ لِحْيَتَهُ بِالْغَالِيَةِ[3] فَقَالُوا فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ فِي هَذِهِ الْهَيْئَةِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَخْطُبَ الْحُورَ الْعِينَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ. - سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مَوْلًى لِبَنِي هَاشِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ مِثْلَهُ.

“One night Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, came out wearing a robe and gown of fur of al- Khazz (garments made of skin or fur of an animal that lives in water), and his beard covered with al- Ghaliyah. They said, ‘At this time and in this make-up!’ He said, ‘I like to propose to al-Hur al-Tn before Allah, most Ma

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْمِسْكِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي أَمَرَ فَعُمِلَ لَهُ مِسْكٌ فِي بَانٍ‌[4] بِسَبْعِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ يُخْبِرُهُ أَنَّ النَّاسَ يَعِيبُونَ ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَا فَضْلُ‌ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ يُوسُفَ ع وَ هُوَ نَبِيٌّ كَانَ يَلْبَسُ الدِّيبَاجَ مُزَرَّراً بِالذَّهَبِ وَ يَجْلِسُ عَلَى كَرَاسِيِّ الذَّهَبِ وَ لَمْ يَنْقُصْ ذَل

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about musk. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father once commanded to prepare for him musk in frankincense for seven hundred dirham. Fadl ibn Sahl then informed him (the Imam) that people scorn it. He (the Imam) wrote to him saying, ‘O Fadl, did you not know that Yusuf ‘Alayhi al-Salam, a Prophe

إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع اسْتَقْبَلَهُ مَوْلًى لَهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ بَارِدَةٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ وَ مِطْرَفُ‌[1] خَزٍّ وَ عِمَامَةُ خَزٍّ وَ هُوَ مُتَغَلِّفٌ بِالْغَالِيَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْهَيْئَةِ إِلَى أَيْنَ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِ جَدِّي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَخْطُبُ الْحُورَ الْعِينَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, came face to face with one of his Mawla’ in a cold night wearing a gown, a robe and a turban of al-Khazz (garments made of skin or fur of an animal that lives in water), covered with al-Ghaliyah. He said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in se

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْخَلُوقِ آخُذُ مِنْهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ وَ لَكِنْ لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَدُومَ عَلَيْهِ.

‘It is not harmful but I do not like for you to continuously use it.’”

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ تَمَسَّ الْخَلُوقَ فِي الْحَمَّامِ أَوْ تَمَسَّ بِهِ يَدَيْكَ مِنَ الشُّقَاقِ تُدَاوِيهِمَا بِهِ وَ لَا أُحِبُّ إِدْمَانَهُ وَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَبِيتُ مُتَخَلِّقاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to touch al-Khuluq in the bathhouse or touch to cure cracks in your hand, but I do not like to always use it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful to use al-Khuluq but one must not sleep overnight with it.’”

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ تَمَسَّ الْخَلُوقَ فِي الْحَمَّامِ أَوْ تَمْسَحَ بِهِ يَدَكَ تُدَاوِي بِهِ وَ لَا أُحِبُّ إِدْمَانَهُ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to touch al-Khuluq in the bathhouse or touch to cure cracks in your hand, but I do not like to always use it.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّهُ لَيُعْجِبُنِي الْخَلُوقُ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I like al-Khuluq.”’

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ لِامْرَأَتِهِ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَبِيتُ مُتَخَلِّقاً.

‘It is not harmful for one to use al-Khuluq for his wife, but he must not sleep overnight with it.’”

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَتَخَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَبِيتُ مُتَخَلِّقاً.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to use al-Khuluq, but one must not sleep overnight with it.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَبْقَى رِيحُ الْعُودِ الَّتِي فِي الْبَدَنِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ يَبْقَى رِيحُ عُودِ الْمُطَرَّاةِ[1] عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The fragrance of aloe that is in the body remains for forty days but the fragrance of the prepared aloe remains for twenty days.’”

يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُدَخِّنَ ثِيَابَهُ إِذَا كَانَ يَقْدِرُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is very proper for one to apply incense to his clothes if one can afford.’”

خَرَجَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَوَجَدْتُ مِنْهُ رَائِحَةَ التَّجْمِيرِ.

“Once abu al-Hassan (a.s.), came out and I felt the fragrance of incense from him (the Imam).”’

دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع الْحَمَّامَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَسْلَخِ دَعَا بِمِجْمَرَةٍ فَتَجَمَّرَ بِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ جَمِّرُوا مُرَازِمُ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ نَصِيبَهُ يَأْخُذُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once entered a bathhouse with abu al-Hassan (a.s.). When he (the Imam) came out to the room for undressing, he asked for the incense stand, and applied incense in it then said, ‘Allow them to the incense O Murazim.’ I then asked, ‘Can anyone who wants take a share?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, they can do so.’”

أَحْمَدُ كَانَ نِسَاءُ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِذَا تَبَخَّرْنَ أَخَذْنَ نَوَاةً مِنْ نَوَى الصَّيْحَانِيِ‌ مَمْسُوحَةً[1] مِنَ التَّمْرِ مُنْقَاةَ التَّمْرِ وَ الْقُشَارَةِ فَأَلْقَيْنَهَا عَلَى النَّارِ قَبْلَ الْبَخُورِ فَإِذَا دَخَنَتِ النَّوَاةُ أَدْنَى الدُّخَانِ رَمَيْنَ النَّوَاةَ وَ تَبَخَّرْنَ مِنْ بَعْدُ وَ كُنَّ يَقُلْنَ هُوَ أَعْبَقُ وَ أَطْيَبُ لِلْبَخُورِ وَ كُنَّ يَأْمُرْنَ بِذَلِكَ.

“Women of abu al-Hassan (a.s.), when burning incense first took the date-stone of Sayhaniy (a certain kind of date of al-Madinah) date, clean of date fruit or sweetness and peel, then placed it on the fire before the incense. When the date-stones smoked the minimum they threw away the date-stones and burnt the incense.

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الدُّهْنُ يُلَيِّنُ الْبَشَرَةَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الدِّمَاغِ وَ يُسَهِّلُ مَجَارِيَ الْمَاءِ وَ يُذْهِبُ الْقَشَفَ وَ يُسْفِرُ اللَّوْنَ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Applying oil softens the skin, increases the ability of brain, opens the channels of water, removes the scaling and makes color to glow.”’

الدُّهْنُ يَذْهَبُ بِالسُّوءِ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying oil removes wickedness (despair).”’

الدُّهْنُ يُظْهِرُ الْغِنَى.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying oil demonstrates wealth.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الدُّهْنُ يُلَيِّنُ الْبَشَرَةَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الدِّمَاغِ الْقُوَّةَ وَ يُسَهِّلُ مَجَارِيَ الْمَاءِ وَ هُوَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْقَشَفِ وَ يُحَسِّنُ اللَّوْنَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Applying oil softens the skin, increases the abilities of the brain, opens the channels of water, removes the scaling and improves color (of the skin).”’

دَهْنُ اللَّيْلِ يَجْرِي فِي الْعُرُوقِ وَ يُرَوِّي الْبَشَرَةَ وَ يُبَيِّضُ الْوَجْهَ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Applied oil at night flows in the veins, quenches the skin and brightens the face.’”

إِذَا أَخَذْتَ الدُّهْنَ عَلَى رَاحَتِكَ فَقُلِ- اللَّهُمَ‌ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الزَّيْنَ وَ الزِّينَةَ وَ الْمَحَبَّةَ وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّيْنِ وَ الشَّنَآنِ وَ الْمَقْتِ ثُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ عَلَى يَأْفُوخِكَ‌[1] ابْدَأْ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ.

‘When you take oil in your palm, say, ‘O Lord, I ask You to grant me grace, beauty and love. I ask from You protection against abhorrence, disgrace and anger.’ Then place it on your forehead and say whatever you can.’”

مَنْ دَهَنَ مُؤْمِناً كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ نُوراً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

‘If one applies oil on a believing person, Allah writes for every hair a light on the Day of Judgment.’”

لَا يَدَّهِنُ الرَّجُلُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يُرَى الرَّجُلُ شَعِثاً لَا يُرَى مُتَزَلِّقاً كَأَنَّهُ امْرَأَةٌ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man must not apply oil every day; a man should look shaggier and not polished and greasy like a woman.’”