سنن ابودوٗد · Hadith 2305

Umm Hakim, daughter of Usayd, reported on the authority of her mother that her husband died and she was suffering from sore eyes. She therefore applied collyrium (jAla). Ahmad said: The correct version is "glittering collyrium (kuhl al-jAla). She sent her slave-girl to Umm Salamah, and she asked her about the use of glittering collyrium (kuhl al-jAla). She said: Do not apply it except in the case of dire need which is troubling you. In that case you can use it at night, but you should remove it in the daytime. Then Umm Salamah said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to visit me when Abu Salamah died, and I had put the juice of aloes in my eye. He asked: What is this, Umm Salamah? I replied: It is only the juice of aloes and contains no perfume. He said: It gives the face a glow, so apply it only at night and remove it in daytime, and do not comb yourself with scent or henna, for it is a dye. I asked: What should I use when I comb myself, Messenger of Allah? He said: Use lote-tree leaves and smear your head copiously with them.

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020