My fascination with oud started when I discovered that oud was one of Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ favoured scents along with musk and in some reports ambergris. From all the scents it is reported that Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ liked oud and musk the most (Bukhari S.K vol 1 p 584). It is reported that He ﷺ would apply scent to the beard and hair (Bukhari S.K vol 1 p 589) . That discovery was more than twenty years ago.
It was however on my first travel to Medina and Mecca that I became mesmerised by the ethereal scent of oud oil and chips.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ loved all perfume. It is reported that he never refused a gift of perfume (Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 49, Hadith 767).
Azra bin Thabit Al-Ansari said:
“When I went to Thumama bin Abdullah, he gave me some perfume and said that Anas would not reject the gifts of perfume. Anas said: The Prophet ﷺ used not to reject the gifts of perfume”.
In one famous hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“In this world, women and perfume have been made dear to me, and my comfort has been provided in prayer” (An-Nasa’i).
He ﷺ is also reported to have said anyone who takes a bath on Friday and cleans himself as much as he can and puts oil (on his hair) or scents himself; and then proceeds for the prayer … all his sins in between the present and the last Friday will be forgiven (Al-Bukhari).
He ﷺ is also reported to have said that if anyone is presented some perfume he should not return it, for it is a thing of good fragrance and light to bear. ( Sunan Abi Dawud Book 35 : 14, Book 34: 4160)
In fairly sound reports from Allah’s Messenger SAW there is the promise that oud along with musk are the scents of heaven (Sahih Bukhāri, 2000; al-Naysābūri, 2000):
“Allah’s Apostle said, “The first group (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the moon when it is full. They will not spit or blow their noses or relieve nature. Their utensils will be of gold and their combs of gold and silver; in their incense releasing al-`aluwwa (aloeswood) will be used, and their sweat will smell like musk….”
While in another narration reported by Nāfi’ (al-Naysābūri, 2000):
“When Ibn Umar wanted incense burning, he got it from al-`aluwwa (aloeswood) without mixing it with anything, or he put camphor along with aloeswood and then said: “This is how Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) burned incense.”
“So, al-Ḥasan ibn ‘Aliy got up and started walking with a sikhāb (scented wooden necklace) around his neck”. (Bukhāri, 2000; al-Naysābūriy, 2000)
Some reports have suggested that the oud tree was rewarded with its magnificent fragarence after it permitted Adam (as) and Hawa (as) to remove leaves from it to cover themselves .
I later learnt that oud is used widely by followers of other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Daoism.
In Hebrew tradition, The Song of Songs describes oud as a form of incense, and King Solomon as “coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense.”
A form of respect and honour to others is to give them a gift of perfume ( (Bukhari S.K vol 1 p 587)
