Washing The Hands With Soap While In Ihraam

Muallimul Hujjaaj states that washing one’s hair or body with anything that is scented is prohibited. If scent (or that which gives off scent when applied to the body) is applied to a complete limb, then Dumm is Waajib, and if applied to a small limb such as the nose, eyes, ears, etc. then only Sadaqah is Waajib, if the scent is minimal (like in the case of soap).

The hand, palm etc. is generally regarded as a complete limb, thus in principle, Dumm should be imposed when using scented soap on a complete limb. However, the Muhasshi (in the Haashiyah of Muallimul-Hujjaaj) has argued and alluded that due to the fact that the reason behind the manufacturing of soap is not the scent and fragrance, but rather attaining cleanliness, softening the hair and skin, etc; therefore, Sadaqah, rather than Dumm should be applicable even if the soap is applied onto a complete limb.

This view has been taken into consideration in Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya too wherein it is stated that the objective of soap is to cleanse the hands; the scent and fragrance is secondary and not the main purport of manufacturing soap. Thus, a person doesn’t look at soap as a scent but as an item used to attain cleanliness. Also, the cleansing contents in the soap far exceed the scent in the soap, thus Dumm is not Waajib, but rather Sadaaqah.

Based on the above, in the enquired case he will be required to give Sadaqah, as it only happened once. One must bear in mind that, even though Sadaqah (and not Dumm) is imposed by using scented soap, one should not use it repeatedly time and again. This is because some texts do indicate that if it was a once-off incident, Sadaqah would suffice; but if scented soap is used several times, then Dumm should be given when used on a complete limb such as the palm.