What is the ruling on wearing strong-smelling perfume when going to the mosque, especially if men smell it, given that some women believe this is a way of showing respect for the mosque?

The ultimate reference for Islamic rulings is the Quran and the Sunnah. There are texts that prohibit women from wearing perfume when leaving their homes, including Hadiths from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

1. "Any woman who perfumes herself and passes by a gathering so that they may smell her fragrance is a fornicator." 2. "If one of you goes to the mosque, she should not approach any perfume." 3. "Any woman who uses incense should not attend the last 'Isha' prayer with us." 4. The Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah about a woman who passed by him with a strong scent, and he ordered her to return and bathe because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There is no woman who goes out to the mosque with a strong scent whose prayer Allah accepts until she returns to her house and bathes."

The reason for this prohibition is the arousal of sexual desire. Scholars have also included in this ruling beautiful clothing, visible jewelry, luxurious adornment, and mixing with men.

Ibn Daqiq al-'Id said: "In this, there is the prohibition of perfuming for a woman intending to go to the mosque, due to its ability to stir men's sexual desires."

Therefore, there is no room for argument after these proofs. The Muslim woman must realize the seriousness of the sin resulting from violating this Sharia ruling. Modern scientific discoveries have shown the connection between the sense of smell and the arousal of desire, which confirms the precision of Sharia rulings in blocking paths leading to immorality.