Ahadith on Surmah

[ummtaalib]

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 

 

Ahadith on Surmah

 

 

One should use Surmah (kohl / antimony) with the intention of Ajr (reward). It benefits the eye and one receives reward for following the Sunnah also.

 

 

 

 

Hadith 1

 

Ibn Abbaas (RA) says : “Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said : ‘Use kohl made of Ithmid on the eye; it brightens the eyesight and strengthens and increases the growth of the eye lashes.’”

 

Sayyidina Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) used to say : ‘Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  had a small container for keeping kohl from which he applied kohl in each eye three times every night.’

 

Commentary

 

Ithmid is a special type of kohl which is reddish black in colour. It is obtained in the Eastern countries. Some Ulama say it means those who have good eyesight and it should be used by those with whose eyesight it agrees, otherwise a sick person’s eye will pain more by its use. 

 

It is more beneficial to apply kohl at the time of sleeping as it will remain longer in the eyes, and will penetrate more into the pores. There are different narrations on the number of times it should be applied in each eye.

 

In a few, it is stated that it should be applied 3 times in each eye, as mentioned above. In other narrations it is stated that it should be applied 3 times in the right eye and 2 times in the left eye. It is supposed that the variations are because of the different times of the narrations.

 

At a certain time, Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  applied it in one manner and at another time, in the other manner. 

 

Hafez Ibn Hajar, Mullah ‘Ali Qaari  and other ‘Ulama have preferred the first method. The first method has been narrated many times from Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) .

 

 

Hadith 2

 

Hazrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) reports : “Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  applied kohl of Ithmid three times in each eye before sleeping.” 

 

In a narration also from Ibn Abbaas (RA), it is reported : “Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had a small container for keeping kohl, from which he applied in each eye, kohl three times before sleeping.”

 

 

Hadith 3

 

Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdullah (RA) says : “Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  said : ‘Use the kuhl made from Ithmid for the eyes. It brightens the vision and strengthens the growth of the eye lashes.’”

 

 

Hadith 4

 

Hazrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) says : “Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  said : ‘The best from among all the kohl used by you is the one made from ithmid. It brightens the eyesight and strengthens the growth of the eye lashes.’”

 

 

Hadith 5

 

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) related the same Hadith from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)  that : ‘Verily use the kohl made from Ithmid. It brightens the vision and strengthens the growth of the eye lashes.’

 

Commentary

 

In all the above narrations the use of Kohl made from Ithmid has been stressed. Only those eyes are meant that agree with the use of it, otherwise because of certain eye conditions, kohl does not agree with some people, as was mentioned previously. 

 

The Ulama have written that due to these commands and practices, it is Sunnah to use Kohl and it is better to use the one made from Ithmid. If one uses kuhl made from any other substance, it will be regarded as Sunnah, but the virtue is obtained by using kohl made of Ithmid.

 

 

From ‘Shamaa`il Tirmidhi’.

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