Theres this lad who comes to our local masjid to read namaz. Problem is....he stinks so bad....i feel sick and hope he doesnt stand next to me during prayer..
ok, i thought I was the only one who 'smelt' him. but im not alone.
What do we do? dont wanna hurt his feelings, but this needs to be addressed
Islamically, am i allowed to face him and tell him he needs a wash?
Dont know islamically but if i were u i would tell him about hygiene and how to use deoderent,, nothing wrong with that ,
i mean if its as bad as you say iit is i doubt u'l be the first person to have told him he smells,,
he shouldn't distract others namaz due to smell....up to you how to best tackle problem
write him a note and slip it into his pocket.
I come across many similar cases of smelly boys walking in to the prayer hall.
I always have a word with them outside when the prayer in finished.
I told one lad in December:
"Brother, I love you. You are my muslim brother. Maybe you dont know this but some strange smell is coming from your clothes. Have you spilled any eggs on your clothes?
I thought I tell you this privately because other people might smell it too, and
I dont want my muslim brother to lose any reputation in their eyes."
This worked.
Next time, he washed up and there was no smell from him again.
He even thanked me for saving his rep.
People are willing to listen if they
are told politely and privately in a loving way.
I think the note idea could woorkk,,gets the message across and its anonymous
"I know this sister who wopuld consider marrying you, but there is a smell problem. Actually, I don't know any sister, but I hope you get the point. Salaams."
(I would never use that and would expect on occasion to get the reply "well you don't smell of peaches yourself" back. if not a fist.)
More seriously, I would probably try to ignore it if possible. If not... as long as you are not taking the mick out of him, it may be ok.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
That might not be subtle enough - there is a theory that says you can get used to any consistent smell within a few short seconds, and not even notice it anymore unless it changes in concentration, odour etc...
The person simply may not know and not be able to smell it. Or he may know and not do anything about it. its not like you can carry a can of anti perspirant everywhere...
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Yes, but the person in question will always encounter it as it surrounds him... like an aura. He may not notice.
On the other hand, a couple of weeks ago when outside, I managed to smell the perfume some girl was wearing... she was walking on the other side of the road!
Overkill I think.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Make friends with him...
And then tell him nicely and straightforwardly
Not patronising or anywhere near mean, just "i care about you and i'd want you to tell me if i smelt" is good to make friends with him because it'll embarass him less...
I had this problem once. My friend whose a girl, right... smelt quite bad (not always, just recently) and i was going to sort of sit her down and tell her but was going to do it subtly... i had a plan and everything.
I was going to 'set her up' with my friend and we were going to go to the cinema and then i'd say to her after "He really likes you except that i've realised lately that you know, you don't smell too good-it's not awful, just that if you want to get anywhere with him maybe you should....'
Except the stupid idiot ruined it. As soon as she walked into the cinema and me and him were standing by the sweets (I was stocking up on jellybeans
) he went " URGHHH. Youuu STINK!"
#Before you look at the thorns of the rose , look at it's beauty. Before you complain about the heat of the sun , enjoy it's light. Before you complain about the blackness of the night, think of it's peace and quiet... #
i think you should go with my plan. best one.
if you say it to his face, you are going to embarrass and shame him up BIG TIME. he may never come back to the masjid :shock:
if you put it in his pocket, he wont know it was you or anyone from the masjid.
anyway, good luck!
the dude stinks real bad. imagine having to pray next to someone that stinks, major distraction. all thats gona be on your mind is the stink coming from next door! no good. islam is big on hygiene.
Don't you think he's going to feel it if someone's slipping a note into his back pocket?
That itself might freak him out enough never to go back to Mosque xD
#Before you look at the thorns of the rose , look at it's beauty. Before you complain about the heat of the sun , enjoy it's light. Before you complain about the blackness of the night, think of it's peace and quiet... #
who said anything about the back pocket!
he can slip it into his coat pocket after a jummah hug.
"Congratulations, its your birthday! Here, have a can of deodorant. Oh, its not your birthday... this can will go to waste... I know what, keep it."
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Give up!
#Before you look at the thorns of the rose , look at it's beauty. Before you complain about the heat of the sun , enjoy it's light. Before you complain about the blackness of the night, think of it's peace and quiet... #
i think thats the best 1 so far
"ThiS WoRlD Iz A PrIsOn 4 A BeLiVeR AnD PaRaDiSe 4 A NoN-BeLiVeR.........."
I agree. This is time-tested and a prophetically advised method of offering sincere naseeha.
To be quick, you could just briefly whisper in his ear the problem which would do the trick, thus avoiding the possibility of causing embarassment. Noor's idea of writing him a quick note is also good. I like
Obviously you have to give the guy 70 excuses..
Maybe hes a naturalist eco-warrior and doesnt believe in using soap or deodrant, or he has some medical problem like an overactive sweat gland and cant help it, or perhaps he works in a labour-intensive, BO resulting job, or his shower at home is broken and he has no place to bathe, or he has a psychological phobia of water ?
May Allah shine sweet faith upon you this day and times beyond. May your heart be enriched with peace, and may your home be blessed always. Ameen.
That's only five excuses. DON'T GIVE UP!! Only 65 to go!
Don't just do something! Stand there.
You can just get him to read this thread...