48/38. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5135 — Prophetic Incense Practice
Incense
Hadith About the Prophet Using Incense and Aloeswood
Sunan an-Nasai : 5135
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5135
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ السَّرْحِ أَبُو طَاهِرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَخْرَمَةُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا اسْتَجْمَرَ اسْتَجْمَرَ بِالأُلُوَّةِ غَيْرَ مُطَرَّاةٍ وَبِكَافُورٍ يَطْرَحُهُ مَعَ الأُلُوَّةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا كَانَ يَسْتَجْمِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
It was narrated that Nafi' said: "When Ibn 'Umar burned incense he would burn Al-Uluwwah that was not mixed with anything else, or camphor mixed with some Al-Uluwwah. Then he said: 'This is what the Messenger of Allah [SAW] used to burn.'"
[1] Al-Ulûwwah , they say it is a Persian word for ‘ ‘Ud (aloeswood).Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5135In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 96English translation : Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5138
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5135
This hadith gives a simple report about incense. Nafi' said that when Ibn 'Umar burned incense, he used Al-Uluwwah by itself, or camphor mixed with some Al-Uluwwah. Then Ibn 'Umar said that this is what the Messenger of Allah SAW used to burn. The core topic is the Prophet’s incense practice, not a general rule about every kind of scent. The narration teaches that some Companions paid close attention to the Prophet’s habits, even in matters of fragrance. It also shows a clean and plain way of using incense: either the wood alone or with camphor, as stated in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn 'Umar followed the incense practice he linked to the Messenger of Allah SAW.
- The hadith mentions Al-Uluwwah alone or mixed with camphor.
- Companions preserved even small details from the Prophet’s practice.
- The report teaches care in following the Prophetic example without adding extra claims.
