Al-Kamah - An Eye Remedy

On the authority of Sa’eed ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, who said; I heard the Messenger of Allah - ﷺ - saying:

Al-Kamah¹ is from al-Mann, and its fluid is a remedy for the eye. Bukhari & Muslim

An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, expounds:

Abu 'Ubayd and many others said it was similar to the Mann that descended upon the Children of Israel, due to it descending upon them without any effort or trouble on their part. Similarly, al-Kamah is harvested without any effort or difficulty; its seeds are not sown and it does not need to be watered or anything else.

It has also been said that it is the actual Mann that Allah the Glorified sent down to the Children of Israel, going by the apparent wording [of the Hadeeth].

Sharh Saheeh Muslim: 3/14

Badr ad-Deen al-'Ayni al-Hanafi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

In Al-Jami' by ibn Baytar it states:

It is round shaped, leafless, and stemless with a slightly reddish in color. It is harvested in the spring and eaten raw or cooked. It’s more nutritiously dense than pumpkin.

…

The best tasting ones are the smoothest and whitest, and the softer ones are not good.

'Umdat al-Qari: 26/402

Ibn 'Uthaymeen explains:

Al-Kamah is known as al-Faja’. It sprouts when there is abundant rain, especially during the seasonal rains. It is well known, it tastes good, and grows at ground level. When it ripens, it can be harvested without any effort. This is why the Prophet - ﷺ - said it was from al-Mann; meaning from the ease that Allah has favored His servants with.

Sharh Riyadh as-Saliheen

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) continues:

His statement:

...its fluid is a remedy for the eye.

It is said that the fluid [is a remedy] on its own, without any additions. Another opinion states that mixing it with other medicine is a treatment for the eyes. It was also said that if it is used to cool heat within the eye (burning eyes), then its fluid - exclusively, without any additions - is a remedy. But if it is for other ailments, other medicines are mixed with it.

The correct opinion is that its fluid is a cure for the eyes unrestrictedly, without any additions. So its fluid can be squeezed out and applied to the eye². I [an-Nawawi] as well as others in my time, have witnessed someone who was truly blind, then the fluid of al-Kamah was applied around his eyes like Kuhl, without any additions, and he was cured. His eyesight returned! He is the just, the trustworthy; Shaykh al-Kamal ibn 'Abdullah ad-Damashqi; a righteous man who narrated Hadeeth. He used al-Kamah having full faith  in the Hadeeth, seeking blessings [by acting upon it] and Allah knows best.

Sharh Saheeh Muslim: 3/14

Al Hafidh ibn Hajar noted:

This should be restricted to a person who knows that he has a firm conviction in the authenticity of the Hadeeth and the truthfulness of acting on it. He indicated that in his last statement, which contradicts his first statement; that it [al-Kamah] is a cure unrestrictedly.

Fath al-Bari: 1/2245

Badr ad-Deen al-‘Ayni al-Hanafi, may Allah have mercy upon him, states:

Abu Khaluwayh stated: Its fluid is extracted, mixed with other medicine and then applied around the eyes like Kuhl.

Ibn al-'Arabi stated: The correct opinion is that you can use it on its own in some cases, and you can also mix it with other medicine in other cases.

...

The fluid extracted from it improves eyesight when applied around the eyes like Kuhl. It is one of the best remedies for eyes. If it is mixed with Ithmid³ and applied around the eyes, it strengthens eyelids, improves eyesight in strength and clarity, and reduces watery eyes.

Ibn al-Jawzi also noted that doctors affirm that eating Al-Kamah improves eyesight. It is said that it is sliced and heated over coal until the fluid within it comes to a boil. The fluid is then taken (with a Kuhl stick/eye pencil/eye liner or the like) while the cut is still lukewarm and placed around the eyes. The Kuhl stick should not be submerged in its fluid when it is cold and dry.

If there is heat in the eyes (burning eyes), then its fluid is a remedy on its own, but if it is for another ailment, then it is mixed with other medicine.

Ibn at-Teen stated: It is said that what is meant is it helps one who was afflicted with the evil eye. Because in some wordings of the Hadeeth, it states that its fluid is a cure from the [evil] eye.

‘Umdat al-Qari: 26/402

Al Hafidh ibn Hajar explains:

Meaning it is a cure for eye ailments. Al-Khatabi said that Al-Kamah was specified with this virtue because it is produced from pure Halal that doesn’t have any ambiguity in its acquisition. A point of benefit that is derived here; is that using what is purely Halal improves eyesight, and vice versa.

Ibn al-Jawzi said that there are two opinions concerning what is intended by it being a cure for the eye:

The First: Its fluid [is the cure]. Those who hold this opinion have agreed that its fluid is not applied directly, as is, on the eye. However, they have two opinions regarding the method with which it is applied:

1. The First: The fluid is mixed with other eye remedies that are applied as Kuhl, this was transmitted by Abu 'Ubayd. He (ibn al-Jawzi) said: What supports Abu 'Ubayd's statement is that some medics declared that eating al-Kamah also improves eyesight.


2. The second: It is cut and placed over coal until its fluid boils. A Kuhl stick is placed into the incision while it is lukewarm, and the fluid is applied around the eye (like Kuhl). This is because heat soothes it and removes harmful elements from it, so only what is beneficial remains. The Kuhl stick should not be placed in it while it is cold and dry because it would not be beneficial that way.

Ibrahim al-Harbi relayed that when al-Imam Ahmad's sons; Saleh and ‘Abdullah, had sore eyes, they extracted the fluid of al-Kamah and applied it around their eyes. Their eyes became even more sore and inflamed.

Ibn al-Jawzi stated that his Shaykh; Abu Bakr ibn 'Abdul Baqi said that someone applied the fluid of al-Kamah on their eyes and lost their eyesight⁴.

…

Ibn al-Jawzi’s statement that Al-Kamah’s fluid is not to be used on its own is not entirely correct. 'Eyad noted that some medics detail the use of Al-Kamah for eye treatment as follows:

If it is for relief from heat in the eye (relief from burning eyes), then it is to be applied on its own, [without adding anything to it].

But if it is for other eye ailments, it is mixed with other medicine.

This was strongly affirmed by ibn Al-'Arabi who said:

The correct opinion is that it is used on its own as a remedy in some cases, and in combination with other medicine in others. This has been implemented and proven to be correct.

However, al-Khatabi strongly affirmed ibn al-Jawzi’s statement. He said it is mixed with at-Tawtiya³ and other forms of Kuhl, and it is not used on its own as it is harmful to the eye.

Al-Ghafaqi stated in al-Mufradat; Al-Kamah’s fluid is the best remedy for the eye. If it is kneaded with al-Ithmid³ and applied around the eye (like Kuhl), it strengthens the eyelid, improves eyesight and prevents secretions.

…

Ibnul Qayyim stated:

The best doctors admit that al-Kamah’s fluid heals/improves the eye. Amongst them is Al-Masbahi, Ibn Siyna and others. What removes the confusion surrounding the differing opinions, is that Al-Kamah is originally created free from any harmful elements. It can then be exposed to other external elements by being in close proximity to them or being mixed with them, or other reasons by Allah the Glorified’s permission. So Al-Kamah in its pure form is beneficial, as it has been specified with the characteristic that it is from Allah. It could then be exposed to nearby contaminants. Applying anything that was narrated in the Sunnah sincerely is beneficial. And whoever applies it would have harms repelled by Allah according to their intentions, and vice versa, and Allah knows best.

Fat-h al-Bari: 1/2245

Ibn 'Uthaymeen stated:

Its fluid is a remedy for the eye. Meaning that if the eye has an ailment due to humidity, the fluid that is extracted from Al-Kamah is a remedy; it cures it by the permission of Allah the Majestic. This is because its water is dry, even though it is a fluid, it dries up the eye and removes humidity. This is why he said its fluids are a remedy for the eye; not from every ailment, but from ailments that are caused by humidity. Indeed it will remedy them by the permission of Allah the Glorified.

Sharh Riyadh as-Saliheen

1. Pronounced: Ka-ma-ah, Kamā'. Desert truffle, Its scientific name is Terfeziaceae. keyboard_arrow_up
2. It is not placed in the eye, it is applied around the eye like one would apply Kuhl or makeup around the eye with a Kuhl stick or an eyeliner etc.keyboard_arrow_up
3. A rock that is crushed into a powder and used for Kuhl.keyboard_arrow_up
4. This could be because they applied it to their eyes directly as is, i.e. without implementing the two previously mentioned methods of how to use it, as has been transmitted in some weak narrations. This may also be due to an allergic reaction, a specific ailment which the fluid is not suitable for, or a defect with the fluid due to contamination. It is important that a doctor or herbalist is consulted about specific eye ailments prior to applying it. keyboard_arrow_up

Interesting facts:
Analysis of fatty acids using GLC revealed the presence of ten saturated, four unsaturated fatty acids, and an unidentified compound in different quantities in the truffles, Tirmania nivea, T. pinoyi, and Terfezia boudieri.
^{Bokhary, H.A. & Suleiman, A.A.A. & Basalah, M.O. (1989). Fatty acid components of the desert truffle "Al-Kamah" of Saudi Arabia. J Food Protect. 52. 668-669. 10.4315/0362-028X-52.9.668.}
jfoodprotection.org

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