I wanted to know whether there is any authentic Hadith with regards to applying surma/kuhl (antimony) at night? Is any method also mentioned?
Answer
Yes. Hereunder are Hadiths on this topic:
1) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The best antimony/collyrium is ithmid, [applied] before sleeping, it helps the [eyelashes] to grow and sharpens the eyesight.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3496, Musnad Ahmad, vol. 1 pg. 274, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 23951. Also see: Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2369)
Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic.
(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 6072)
2) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) says “…Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had an antimony holder with which he would apply kuhl before sleeping thrice in each eye.”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2048. Imam Tirmidhi has declared the Hadith sound)
3) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) says: “Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would apply ithmid every night before sleeping and he would apply thrice in each eye.” [i.e. thrice in his right eye and then thrice in his left eye]
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 1 pg. 354 and Shamail Tirmidhi, with commentary of Al Bajuri, Hadith: 49. Also see: Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5706)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar