Applying Surmah to the eyes

Question:-

Where exactly should Surmah (antimony) be applied? Should it be applied to the eyelid or the white of the eye?

Answer:-

The Ahadith recorded in Shamaa’il-e-Tirmidhi state that Ithmid (a special Surmah which is reddish black in colour) should be applied to the eye which will strengthen one’s vision and cause the eyelashes to grow. A narration of Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu states that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to apply Ithmid Surmah before sleeping, in each eye, thrice. From this narration it seems that the Surmah should be applied to the eye and consequently it will be applied to the eyelids as well.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ قال:اكْتَحِلُوا بِالْإِثْمِدِ فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَيُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ وزعم أن النبي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم َ كَانَتْ لَهُ مُكْحُلَةٌ يَكْتَحِلُ مِنْهَا (شمائل ترمذي ص34 مكتبة الشيخ)

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَكْتَحِلُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنَامَ بِالْإِثْمِدِ ثَلَاثًا فِي كُلِّ عَيْنٍ وَقَالَ يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، فِي حَدِيثِهِ: إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَتْ لَهُ مُكْحُلَةٌ يَكْتَحِلُ مِنْهَا عِنْدَ النَّوْمِ ثَلَاثًا فِي كُلِّ عَيْنٍ (شمائل ترمذي ص35 مكتبة الشيخ)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 28 Shawwal 1443 / 30 May 2022