48/19. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5090 — Aishah on Henna Dye
Disliking the Smell of Henna
Aishah's Hadith on Henna Dye and Its Smell
Sunan an-Nasai : 5090
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5090
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو زَيْدٍ، سَعِيدُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَرِيمَةَ، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، سَأَلَتْهَا امْرَأَةٌ عَنِ الْخِضَابِ، بِالْحِنَّاءِ قَالَتْ لاَ بَأْسَ بِهِ وَلَكِنْ أَكْرَهُ هَذَا لأَنَّ حِبِّي صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَكْرَهُ رِيحَهُ . تَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Karimah Narrated from:
I heard a woman asking 'Aishah about dyeing the hair with Henna. She said: 'There is nothing wrong with it, but I do not like to do it because my beloved- meaning the Prophet [SAW]- disliked its smell.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5090In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 51English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5093
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5090
In this narration, Karimah heard a woman ask Aishah about dyeing hair with henna. Aishah answered that there is nothing wrong with it, but she did not like to do it because her beloved, meaning the Prophet [SAW], disliked its smell. The core topic is henna dye. People searching for henna hair dye in Islam or Aishah henna hadith will find a balanced wording here. Aishah did not reject henna dye in itself. At the same time, she shared her personal dislike because of the smell linked to what she knew of the Prophet's preference. The text is narrow and should be explained that way.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aishah said there is nothing wrong with dyeing with henna in this report.
- She personally disliked it because the Prophet disliked its smell.
- The Hadith shows a difference between saying something is allowed and personally not preferring it.
