Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 1554
sahih

Narrated Nafi`:

Whenever Ibn `Umar intended to go to Mecca he used to oil himself with a sort of oil that had no pleasant smell, then he would go to the Mosque of Al-Hulaita and offer the prayer, and then ride. When he mounted well on his Mount and the Mount stood up straight, he would proclaim the intention of assuming Ihram, and he used to say that he had seen the Prophet (ﷺ) doing the same.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ إِذَا أَرَادَ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ ادَّهَنَ بِدُهْنٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ رَائِحَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ، ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مَسْجِدَ الْحُلَيْفَةِ فَيُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يَرْكَبُ، وَإِذَا اسْتَوَتْ بِهِ رَاحِلَتُهُ قَائِمَةً أَحْرَمَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْعَلُ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 25, Hadith 40
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 26, Hadith 625 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophet ﷺ explained to his Companions all the rites of Hajj in words and actions and ordered them to learn their rites from him so Muslims can learn these rites from them. In this hadeeth, Naafi’ – the freed slave of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar -reports that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to oil himself with an oil whose smell does not show before departing al-Madeenah to Makkah to perform Hajj. He (may Allah be pleased with him) used to do that after taking a bath and before wearing his clothes of Ihraam. The reason he opted for the non-scented smell is because he thought using scented oils is not permitted if one is about to enter the state of Ihraam i.e., he was under the assumption that wearing a fragrance is against the requirements of Ihraam. However, it is proven authentic, as in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim, that ‘Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) perfumed the Prophet ﷺ with musk before he entered his Ihraam. After, he (may Allah be pleased with him) would pray in the Mosque of Thoo al-Hulayfah, which is a town at the distance of 10 km from al-Madeenah, and it is the appointed place (MIqaat) of Ihraam for the residents of al-Madeenah and those who travel through it. Then, he (may Allah be pleased with him) would mount his camel and once it stood up, he recited the Talbiyah aloud, which read: “Labbayk-Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, inna al-ḥamda, wal ni`matah, laka wal Mulk, laa shareeka lak”. Then, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informs others that he saw the Prophet ﷺ did all that whenever he ﷺ wanted to depart al-Madeenah to Makkah to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah and whenever he ﷺ wanted to enter the Ihraam. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ recited the Talbiyah for Hajj when he ﷺ reached al-Baydaa’ while he ﷺ was on the back of his camel. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]. Al-Baydaa’ is a place near Thoo al-Hulayfah on the road to Makkah. The reason it was called al-Baydaa’ is because it was empty from any constructions and landmarks. It is possible that the reason the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) differed on the place from which the Prophet ﷺ raised his voice in Talbiyah is that each group reported what they witnessed i.e., the Prophet ﷺ came out from al-Medeenah with the intention of performing hajj, and when he ﷺ prayed at the mosque of Thoo al-Hulayfah, he raised his voice in Talbiyah so those who heard him reported it. Then, he ﷺ mounted his camel and when it stood up, he ﷺ raised his voice in Talbiyah again so those who heard him reported it. This is because the people were coming in groups, so they heard him raising his voice calling the Talbiyah when his camel stood up with him on its back, and they thought that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had raised his voice in the Talbiyah only when his camel stood up with him on its back. Then, when he ﷺ ascended the height of al-Baydaa', he raised his voice in the Talbiyah. Some people heard it at that moment, and they thought that he had raised his voice in the Talbiyah when he ascended the height of al-Baydaa'. Each group reported that which they witnessed and caused them to differ in opinion about the place from which he ﷺ started his Talbiyah and Ihraam. However, the truth is that he recited the Talbiyah three times. From the benefits that can be concluded from this hadeeth is learning that it is permissible to oil oneself before entering the state of Ihraam. As for using fragrant items and perfumes, it is also allowed according to other hadeeths..