Healing by Herbs - Henna

Healing Through Prophetic Medicine in Islam

Tibb-e-Nabawi

Healing by Herbs

حناء / Henna

روى ابن ماجه فى "سننه" حديثاً فى صحته نظر: أنَّ النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا صُدِع، غَلَّفَ رأسَه بالحنَّاءِ، ويقول: "إنَّهُ نافعٌ بإذنِ الله من الصُّداعِ".

Narrated by Ibn Majah that whenever Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam suffered from a headache,he used to cover his head with Henna (Khazaab) and said, "Henna helps to relieve headache by the permission of Allah".


Headaches could be relieved by vomiting, eating, being calm and idle, using cold rags, cooling the body, elevating the temperature, avoiding noise, etc. Knowing these facts, we should mention that treating headaches with Henna is partial and that it treats some types of headache, if the headache is caused by high fever and not by a spoiled substance that requires extraction. Crushed Henna blended with vinegar and applied to the forehead will relieve the headache. Henna soothes the nerves when used as a bandage. Finally, Henna is not only favorable to relieve headaches, but in addition for the various organs of the body and for the hot tumors and inflammations when used as a bandage.

عليّ بن أبي رافع، عن جدته سلمى خادم رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم قالت (ما كان أحد يشتكي إلى رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وسلم وَجعاً في رأسه إلا قال: "احتجم" ولا وجعاً في رجليه إلا قال: "اخضبهما") رواه داود وعنها أيضاً قالت: (كان لا يصيب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قرحة ولا شوكة  إلا وضع عليها الحناء) رواه الترمذي بإسناد حسن

Ali Bin Abi Rafe'e reported on behalf of his grandfather Salma Radi Allaho Anh (servant of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam): "If someone complained to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam for headache, our beloved Prophet asked him for Hijamah & if someone complained for pain in his legs, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam asked him to anoint with HENNA". (Abu Dawood) 
He also reports "Whenever Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam suffered with injury or thorn piercing, the wound was only treated with Henna". (Tirmizi)


Henna is cold in the first degree and dry in the second degree



The Henna tree has two special qualities:


1. Decomposing due to its warm watery essence

2. Constipating due to the cold earthly essence it contains.



Henna in useful in treating burns and soothes the nerves when used as a bandage, as we have stated. When chewed; Henna helps treat the cankers and thrush that appear in the mouth. Henna heals Stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth) that appears in child's mouth. Using Henna to bandage hot tumors helps, and it has a similar effect on open sores (similar to Dragon's blood tree). When Henna is blended with pure wax and rose oil, it will help against the aches of the side (That ul Janb ~ Pleurisy).


When the symptoms of smallpox start to break out on children; and Henna is then applied on the bottom of their feet, the eyes will be immune from the sores that accompany smallpox. When the flower of Henna is placed between wool clothes, it will perfume it and will prevent mold or mite. Furthermore, when the leaves of Henna are submerged in fresh water, then squeezed and drunk for forty days, 20 measures each day with 10 measures of sugar or honey while eating the meat of a young eve (goat), it prevents LEPROSY with its amazing qualities.





Ibn Al Qayyam wrote about a man who complained from fissuring in his fingers and that he offered monetary rewards to whoever could cure him, but to no avail. Later on, a woman prescribed for him a drink of Henna for ten days but he could not understand the idea. Later on, he soaked Henna leaves in water and drank the water and his fingers were healed and regained their beauty.


Henna when used as an ointment for the fingers, polishes and strengthens them. Henna is useful when blended with butter and then used as a bandage for the hot tumors that drain yellow residue. Henna also benefits against chronic mange, helps the hair grow, makes it stronger and strengthens the head & brain. Finally, Henna helps against the blisters and the pustules that appear on the legs and feet and the rest of the body in general.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (إن اليهود والنصارى لا يصبغون فخالفوهم) رواه البخاري ومسلم

Reported by Abu Hurairah Radi Allaho Anh that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said "Jews & Chiristians do not dye their hairs, so oppose them by applying the color (HENNA)."



Hennas was loved by Khulafa'-e-Rashideen, Abu Bakr & Umar Radi Allaho Anhuma.

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: (اختضب أبو بكر بالحناء والكتم واختضب عمر بالحناء بحتاً أي صرفاً) رواه مسلم  .

Reported by Anas Radi Allaho Anh "Abu Bakr Radi Allaho Anh used to color his hairs by HENNA & KATAM, & Umar Radi Allaho Anh used to dye only with HENNA".



Imam Muhammad Ahmed Zahabi says that there are three essential factors for healing :


1. Expulsion of fluids from the wounds

2. Cessation of production (of any more fluids)

3. Formation of healthy flesh (tissue granulation) to fill the gap created in the wound



Henna contains all these three factors and possesses very good healing properties.

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْأَلْكَ عِلْماً نَافِعاً وعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً ورِزْقاً حَلالاً طَيِّباً

Faghiyah (Henna Blossom)

فَاغِيَةٌ: هى نَوْرُ الحِنَّاء، وهى من أطيب الرياحين، وقد روى البيهقى فى كتابه "شُعَب الإيمان" من حديث عبد الله بن بُريدَة، عن أبيه رضى الله عنه يرفعه: "سيدُ الرَّياحين فى الدنيا والآخرة الفاغِيَةُ"، وروى فيه أيضاً، عن أنس بن مالك رضى الله عنه، قال: "كان أحَبَّ الرَّياحين إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الفاغِيَةُ". والله أعلم بحال هذين الحديثين، فلا نشهد على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بما لا نعلم صِحته.وهى معتدلةٌ فى الحر واليُبْس، فيها بعضُ القبض، وإذا وُضِعَتْ بين طىِّ ثياب الصوف حفظتْها من السوس، وتدخل فى مراهم الفالج والتمدد، ودُهنها يُحلِّل الأعضاء، ويُلَيِّن العصب.

Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi, on the authority of Abdullah Bin Buraidah's father "The best of perfumes in this world & the hereafter is Faghiyah". Furthermore, narrated by Al-Bayhaqi on the authority of Anas Bin Malik Radi Alaho Anh that he said, "The best perfumed loved by Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was Faghiyah". But we are not sure if these Hadith are authentic or not.


Faghiyah which is Henna blossom, is one of the best kinds of perfumes, Faghiyah is mild in its hotness and dryness, and constipates mildly. When Faghiyah is placed between folded wool clothes, it protects them from mold and mites. Faghiyah is used in ointments against facial paralysis and Aneurysm (an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel), while its oil helps the organs and relaxes the nerves.


Henna Water

Source

to be continued .....