ArabianLites

                                                                                                  Misk (Musk) ~ Kastoori

مِسْكٌ: ثبت فى "صحيح مسلم"، عن أبى سعيد الخُدرىِّ رضى الله عنه، عن النبىِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "أطيبُ الطِّيبِ المِسْكُ".وفى "الصحيحين" عن عائشة رضى الله عنها: "كنتُ أُطيِّبُ النبىَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قبل أن يَحْرِمَ ويومَ النَّحْرِ قبل أن يطوفَ بالبيت بطيبٍ فيه مِسْكٌ". المِسك: مَلِكُ أنواعِ الطيب، وأشرُفهَا وأطيُبَها، وهو الذى تُضرب به الأمثال، ويُشَبَّه به غيرُه، ولا يُشبَّه بغيره، وهو كُثبان الجنَّة، وهو حارٌ يابس فى الثانية، يَسُرُّ النفس ويُقَوِّيها، ويُقَوِّى الأعضاء الباطنة جميعها شُرباً وشمّاً، والظاهرةَ إذا وُضِعَ عليها. نافع للمشايخ، والمبرودين، لا سِيَّما زمن الشتاء، جيد للغَشْى والخفقانِ، وضعف القوة بإنعاشه للحرارة الغريزية، ويجلو بياضَ العين، ويُنشِّف رطوبتها، ويَفُشُّ الرياح منها ومن جميع الأعضاء، ويُبطل عملَ السموم، وينفعُ مِن نَهْش الأفاعى، ومنافِعُه كثيرة جداً، وهو أقوى المفرِّحات.

Narrated by Sahih Muslim, Abu Said Al-Khudri Radi Allaho Anh reported that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said: “The best type of perfume is Musk”.

In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Aishah Radi Allaho Anha said that she used to anoint Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam with a perfume containing Musk before assuming Ihram, on the Day of the Sacrifice and before performing Tawaaf around the Sacred House (Ka’bah).

Musk is the king of all perfumes, it has the best aroma. Other types of perfumes are usually compared to Musk, but Musk is never compared to them. In addition, the hills and sands of Paradise are made of Musk.

Musk is a hot, dry substance of the second degree, and it brings comfort and joy to the heart, pleases the spirit, increases vitality and strengthens the inner organs when it is drunk or smelled. Musk brings strength and comfort to the external organs when anointed with it. Musk is beneficial for old people, particularly those of cold temperament and for those who have excessive skin moisture; especially during winter, and helps against fainting, shaking and the general weakness in the body as it excites the instinctive heat. Musk clears the white part in the eye and dries excess moisture in it, reduce excessive excretion from the eyes, reduce excessive excretion from the eyes, clear inflammations of the apaque outer white coat of the eye, dissipates swelling in various organs and as well as other infections affecting the clouding of the clear cornea that causes blurring of vision. Musk works as an antidote for some poisons,  helps against snakebite and helps eliminate wind.

The smell of musk is penetrating and persistent.   Smelling musk helps to resuscitate someone who suffers from fainting attack, and it  helps to abate irregular acceleration of the heartbeat, or palpitation, and is believed to act as an aphrodisiac.  It has many other benefits.

Musk is obtained from the sex glands of the male deer, a small, tusked, antlerless deer (Moschus moshiferus). native to the mountainous regions of Siberia to the Himalayas.  The pods from which musk is obtained are lodged in a pouch near the deer's sex organs and contain a substance, the essential ingredient of which is the organic compound muscone.  When dried, the substance yields a grainy powder that is prepared for a perfume by making a tincture with alcohol.

                                                     Preserving The Health With Perfume

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said:

ثبت عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: "حُبِّبَ إلىَّ من دُنياكُم: النِّساءُ والطِّيبُ، وجُعلتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنى فى الصَّلاة"

"From your world, woman (WIFE) and Teeb (perfume) were made beloved to me and the comfort of my eye is in the Salaat (prayer)".

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to frequently use Teeb (perfume) and did not like foul odors.

Good perfumes are nutrition for the soul, and soul is the dynamo of the rest of body's powers. Perfume helps the brain, heart and internal organs and brings comfort to the heart and the soul. Perfumes are the most suitable and favorable remedy and substance for the soul. Also, there is a close connection between good soul & scented perfumes; this is why perfumes were among the dearest substances in this world to the heart of the most pure of all people, our prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam.

Al-Bukhari narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used to always accept perfume when presented to him. Also, Muslim narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said "He who is offered Rayhan (Basil) should not refuse it, because it is easy to wear & has a good scent".

Furthermore, Abu Dawood and Nasaai narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said "Whoever is offered some perfume should not refuse it because it is light to wear and has a good scent".

Ibn Abi Shaibah also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) had a container that had some perfume & he used to perfume himself with it, the Prophet also said "Allah Has a right on every Muslim that he takes a bath at least once in seven days and if he has a perfume, he should use it".

Furthermore, angels like perfume while devils (Sheytaan & JINN) dislike it, because the dearest scent to the devils are foul orders, while good souls like good scents. Every soul leans towards and deserves what it likes. Evil men are suitable for evil women & vice versa, while good men are suitable for good women in general; it also applies to every type of deed, speech, food, drink, clothing & scent.

Teeb (perfume) is the fuel of the soul, which is the engine of body's powers & energy. Therefore, various strengths and powers in the body are nurtured in the presence of Teeb. Similarly, powers of the body arenurtured by consuming food and drink, following comfort and elation, being close to loved ones, receiving good news and by the absence of hateful / disliked persons whose presence is heavy on the heart. Indeed, associating with disliked persons weakens the strength and causes sadness and depression, just as the effects that fever and foul odor have on the body. This is why the companions of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam were disallowed from acquiring the characteristics that would bother the Prophet and make them detested and disliked by him. Allah Said:

إذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَادْخُلُواْ فَإذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِرُواْ وَلاَ مُسْتَأْنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ إنَّ ذلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى النَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىِ مِنْكُمْ، وَاللهُ لاَ يَسْتَحْىِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ [الأحزاب: 52-53]

“But when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken your means, disperse without sitting for a talk. Verily, such (behavior) annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to go): but Allah Is not shy of (Telling you) the truth.” (33:53)

In short, the Teeb / perfume was one of the dearest objects to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam. It has a good effect on preserving health and removing many ailments because it arouses the power of the body.

                                                                                               Anbar (Ambergris; Whale)

Aromatic substances are derived from flowers and balsams, herbs, spices and from animal secretions from which some essential oils and fragrant ointments are produced, while other substances are made of nonvolatile plant oils.  

In Arabic, there are two meanings of Anbar:

1. A whale (fish) is called Anbar

2. An expensive perfume (explained below) is also called Anbar (Ambergris)

A Hadith narrated in Sahihain tells about Abu Ubaydah Ibn Al Jarrah Radi Allaho Anh and the Muslim army finding a huge fish (or a whale), and that they ate from it for almost a month. They also took some of its meat with them to Madinah Munawwarah and gave some of it to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam. This Hadith indicates that it is allowed for Muslims to eat whatever comes from the sea even when it is dead (and if the fish meat is fresh & has not spoiled).

Some people who (disagree with what we stated above) said that the whale was thrown on the shore while still alive and that when the water receded, it died. Therefore they say, the whale died because of the lack of water & not naturally.

Ambergis (Arb. Anbar) is an animal secretion formed in the intestines of sperm whales.  When fresh, it is black, greasy, and exudes an extremely unpleasant odor, but after exposure to the air it hardens, turns grey and develops a pleasant aroma.  The lighter the color of Ambergris, the better is its quality or value.  This is the substance which is used in making perfumes and some pharmaceutical preparations.

On the other hand, sperm oil substance which is extracted from the sperm oil, and is also used inthe making ointments, pomades, face creams, and candles.  On the other hand, whale oil is taken from the blue whale and the humpback, and is an edible fat, in addition to its use like sperm oil, and here, too, common people confuse it with the perfume oil known as Anbar.

As for the ambergris fragrance (Anbar), it is sometimes diluted, blended, filtered, and then aged for up to a year, and is used as Oriental fragrance in varying degrees of concentration.  

This opinion is incorrect, because the Sahabah (companions of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) found the whale dead at the seashore. They did not see it alive and then the water receded causing its death as claimed. Further, if the whale were still alive, the sea would not have thrown it on the shore, since the sea usually throws dead animals and dead fish on the shore.

Anbar, which is a type of Teeb (perfume), is one of the best types of perfumes after Musk. Some people mistakenly preferred Anbar to Musk. However, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam described Musk as : "It is the best Teeb (perfume)".

Those who thought that Anbar is better than Musk were deceived by the fact that Anbar does not spoil, just like gold. This fact alone does not indicate that Anbar is better than Musk.

There are several types of Anbar; white, gray, red, yellow, green, blue, black and multicolored. The best type of the Anbar is gray, then the blue and then the yellow in color, while the black Anbar is the worst type.

People have conflicting opinions regarding the origin of Anbar, where some people said that it is a plant that grows on the seabed and which sea reptiles eat and then discard to later be thrown on the seashore. Some people say that Anbar is the waste of sea creatures that looks like cow manure. Some people even said that it is a type of foam that the sea discards on the shore. The author of Qanoon discounted the last two opinions but said that the amber might originate from an undersea spring.

Anbar is hot and dry and strengthens the heart, the brain and the senses. It also strengthens the body and is benefacial in the treatment of facial paralysis, Hemiplegia (paralysis), stomach illnesses due to cold temperament, thick gases caused by obstructions in the intestines, phlegmatic ailments and flatulence. Anbar helps open various clogs if it is used as an ointment or as a drink. When it is inhaled, Anbar will relieve cold symptoms, headaches and migraines.  When cooked with roses, and can be mixed with drinks, or used in inunctions as balm.  Anbar helps reduce heart pain, and it is called the king of perfumes.

                                                                                                    Oud (Indian Aloe Tree)

The Indian Aloe (Oud) comes in two types. One type is used for medicinal purposes which is called Qust-al-Bahri. The second type of Oud is called Aluwwah, aloe wood, which is used as a perfume.

Muslim narrated in his Sahih that lbn Umar Radi Allaho Anh used to burn dry aloe wood along with some Kafoor (camphor) and stated that it was the way of fumigation adopted by the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam). Also, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) has described the bounties that the people of Paradise will be enjoying, such as having the aloe wood.

The Aluwwah (Oud) is hot and dry in the third degree, opens the clogs and removes gas from the stomach. Oud dries unnecessary moisture while strengthening the intestines and brings relief and comfort to the heart. Oud also helps the mind, sharpens the senses, constipates and helps relieve the Enuresis (bed wetting that results from coldness of the prostate).

Ibn Samjun said, "There are several kinds of Oud, and they all carry the general name of Aluwwah, Oud is used both for internal & external applications (of the body) and is burnt alone or with other substances. There is a medicinal significance that when Oud is mixed with Kafoor (camphor), each of them makes the other milder. Furthermore, burning the Oud cleanses the air which is one of the six necessary elements for the body's well-being.

                                                                                                     Bitteekh (Watermelon)

Abu Dawood & Tirmidhi narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used to eat watermelon with ripe dates, saying "The hotness of this substance (dates) neutralizes the coldness of that (watermelon)".

There are several Ahadith regarding watermelon, none of them are authentic except the Hadith that we mentioned above.

Green watermelon is cold, wet & is sweet. It works as a cleanser (for stomach & the intestines). Watermelon departs the stomach more quickly than cucumber & quickly blends with whatever substances are present in the stomach. It is beneficial to eat watermelon when warm, but when it is cold, it is better to have it with some ginger to offset its harm.

Watermelon should be eaten before the meals, otherwise it will cause nausea. Some doctors said that when watermelon is eaten before meals, it cleanses the stomach & removes ailments.

                                                                                                              Khall (Vinegar)

Muslim narrated in his Sahih that Jabir bin Abdullah said, "The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) asked his wife for food and she said that I have vinegar. He asked for some of it and started eating from it while saying: "What an excellent food is Khall (vinegar), what an excellent food is Khall (vinegar)". (He ate it with bread.).

Ibn-e-Majah narrated from Umm Sa'ad Radi Allaho Anha that Prophet Muhamamd Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said : "What an excellent food Khall (vinegar) is, O Allah ! Put Your Blessings in Khall because it was the food of Prophets before me & any house having the Khall (vinegar) will never face poverty". (House having the Khall means that vinegar is the food of its residents).

Khall (vinegar) is a substance that is both hot and cold, although coldness is usually more apparent. It is dry in the third degree and a strong drying agent. Vinegar soothes the body and softens the nature, vinegar helps against gastric inflammation and bile & prevents the harm of toxic medications, and it decomposes milk and the blood when coagulated and helps the spleen. Khall coats the stomach, constipates, quenches the thirst and prevents tumors from occurring. It also helps the digestion process; works against phlegm, softens thick foods and softens the consistency of the blood.

When vinegar is drunk with salt, it will help against poisonous mushrooms. When vinegar is sipped, it will dissolve the clogs that occur in the blood in the lower jaw. When one rinses his mouth with warm vinegar, it relieves toothache and strengthens the gingival.

When a septic finger is anointed with vinegar, it helps to heal it, furthermore, vinegar relieves pustules, hot tumors and fire bums. Vinegar is an appetite stimulant, softens the stomach, and favorable for young people and for those who live in warm areas.

                                                                                                           POMEGRANATE

Allah Said in Quran:

"In them (both) will be fruits, and date palms and pomegranates". (55:68)

Ali Bin Abi Talib Radi Allaho Anh was reported to have said: "Eat pomegranate with its pulp, because it coats the stomach".

Sweet pomegranate is hot and wet, good for the stomach, and strengthens it because of its being a mi1d constipating agent. It is good for the throat, chest and lungs, along with relieving coughing. The water (or juice) in the pomegranate softens the stomach and is a nutrient for the body. It digests quickly because it is light and produces heat along with some air in the stomach. It helps increase the semen production and is not favorable for those who have fever. Pomegranate has a special quality, that is, when one eats bread with it, it prevents it from being spoiled.

Bitter pomegranate is cold and dry and constipates mildly. It is in addition good for overheated stomach andhelps produce more urine than the other types of pomegranate. It softens yellow bile symptoms, relieves diarrhea, prevents vomiting and is slightly tarry. It in addition stops the heat in the liver, strengthens the organs, helps against bilious shaking, heartaches and the ache of the tip of the stomach, it helps the stomach, rids it of excrements, extinguishes the excessive yellow bile, and benefits the blood.

When pomegranate’s juice is extracted and is cooked with some honey until it becomes like an ointment and used as eye drops, it will clear the yellow color from the eye and will dissipate the thick wetness. When it is placed on the gingival (gums), it will help against the rashes that appear on the gingival. In addition, pomegranate juice extracted with its rind will work as a laxative and will rid the body from septic bilious moistures, along with helping against short-term fever.

As for sour pomegranate, its qualities are in the middle between the two other kinds we mentioned, although this kind leans more towards being sour. Pomegranate seeds that are mixed with honey will alleviate septic finger and malignant ulcers. Pomegranate flowers help to heal wounds. It is said that if one swallows three pomegranate flowers each year, he will be immune from Ophthalmia (conjunctivitis) for an entire year.

                                                                                                                     TEEN (Figs)

Benefits of FIGS as explained by Ibn Al Qayyam; Figs (along with vinegar) are one of the best cures for SPLEEN diseases:

The Sunnah does not mention figs as they did not grow in Hejaaz area or Madinah al Munawwarah. FIGS require a climate different to what is essential for growing the dates.

ALLAH Has Sworn by FIGS in His Book because of its tremendous benefits & uses.

Figs are hot and either dry or wet. Best kind of figs are the white kind when they are ripe, they cleanse the sand that accumulates in the liver & prostate & serve as a preventive substance against poisons, figs are more nutritious than all other types of fruits & help relieve the roughness in chest, throat & trachea. Figs are good for liver & spleen cleansing, purify the phlegm that accumulates in the stomach & provide nourishment for the body. Yet figs make one more susceptible of lice if eaten in excess.

Dried figs have a high nutritional value & they strengthen the nerves, it is the best to eat dried figs with almonds & walnut. Jalinus (Galen) wrote that figs when eaten with walnut & rue prove of an antidote against poisons.

Abu Darda Radi Allaho Anh narrates that someone sent a dish of FIGS to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam (as a gift), & he asked his companions to eat them, he ate them by himself & said that "If any fruit from the paradise could come in this world, it would have been FIGS, because fruits of Jannah (paradise) will be SEEDLESS, eat the figs as it cures PILES & is beneficial for the GOUT", but we are doubtful if this Hadith is authentic.

Pulp of figs is so wonderful, creates thirst among hot-natured people & quenches the thirst which results by phlegm, very affective for cough, it is a diuretic, opens & clears the clogs of liver & spleen; it is a cure for kidney & bladder infections.

When figs are eaten at empty stomach especially with almonds & walnut, they clean the entire digestive system, but figs should not e taken with heavy foods, white mulberry has the same benefits as that of figs but mulberry is less nutritious.

                                                                                                          Zanjabeel (Ginger)

Allah Said:

"And they will be given there (in paradise) a cup (to drink) mixed with Zanjabeel (ginger)". (76: 17)

Abu Nu’aym narrated in his book on the Prophetic medicine that Abu Said Al-Khudri Radi Allaho Anh said:"The King of Rome sent a basket of Zanjabeel (ginger) for Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam, who then gave a piece to everyone including myself".

Ginger is hot in the second degree and wet in the first degree. It heats the body, helps the digestion process, softens the stomach mildly, helps open the clogs of the liver that are caused by coldness and wetness, helps against the wetness that causes sight impairment. Ginger strengthens the sexual power and decomposes thick gases accumulating in the intestines and stomach.

In general, ginger is good for the cold temperament of the liver and stomach. When one takes some ginger along with two measures of sugar and some hot water, it will work as a laxative and will rid the body of harmful excrements. Ginger is an effective ingredient in the ointments that dissolve the phlegm.

Sour ginger is hot and dry and it excites the sexual drive, increases semen production, heats the stomach and liver, helps the digestion process, dries the phlegm that prevails in the body and increases the memory power. It is so suitable for the coldness in liver and stomach and washes the harmful effect of eating fruits. Zanjabeel makes the scent better and fends off the harm of thick / cold foods.

                                                                                                         Hulhab (Fenugreek)

Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was reported to have visited Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas Radi Allaho Anh once when he was ill while in Makkah and he asked that a doctor be brought to examine him. They brought Harith bin Kaladah who examined him and said, ‘There is no harm with him, just cook some fenugreek with dates and let him eat them. Sa'ad was reported to have done that and was then healed.

Hulbah (Fenugreek) is hot in the second degree and dry in the first degree.

When fenugreek seeds are cooked in water, they will soften the throat, chest and the stomach. It relieves coughing, dryness, asthma, hard breathing and increases the sexual drive. It also relieves flatulence, phlegm, piles and the various accumulations in intestines. Fenugreek seed dissolves the phlegm from the chest and helps against gastric ulcer and lung diseases. Hulbah is used to heal the intestines, mixed with some ghee and Faloodah.

When five measures of fenugreek are taken as a drink, it will increase the flow of menstruation, and when it is cooked and the hair is washed with it, it will make it curly and will combat dandruff.

When the flour of the fenugreek seeds is blended with some vinegar and used as a bandage on the tumor of spleen, it will dissolve it. In addition, the woman who suffers from pain in the vagina due to a tumor will benefit if she sits in the water in which the fenugreek was cooked.

When it is used as a bandage and placed on hard / cold tumors, it will help dissolve these tumors. When its water is drunk, it will help against the pain in the stomach that results from accumulation of gaseous materials and will cleanse the intestines.

When one eats the Hulbah cooked in honey, dates or figs on an empty stomach, it will dissolve the phlegm that accumulates in the chest and stomach, and will help against coughing that accompanies such ailments.

Hulbah relieves urine retention and works as a laxative. When it is placed on the erratic nail, it will heal it, while its oil helps against cracked skin due to extreme cold (when it is mixed with wax). There are many other benefits for the Hulbah (Fenugreek).

Reported by Qasim Bin Abdul Rahman that Prophet Muhammad Salallaho Alaihe Wasallam said : "Seek the Shifa (healing) with Hulbah".

Some doctors stated, "If the people had knowledge of its benefits, they would buy it with its weight worth of gold".