#702: Ruling on the Use of Khol?

QUESTION:

“Assalāmu alaykum. Please I want to ask if using the Kohli is Sunnah”

ANSWER:

Wa Alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh.

Alhamdulillāh.

It has been recorded by At-Tirmidhī in the Sunan from Ibn ‘Abbās – radiyallāhu ‘anhumā – that the Rasūl -salallāhu alayhi wasallam – said:

عليكم بالإثمد فإنه يجلو البصر وينبت الشعر.

“Take to (the use of) the Ithmid for it makes clear the vision and aids the growth of the hairs.”

This Hadīth had been graded Sahīh by the Ulamā of Hadīth.

As for the Ithmid, it is a type of Antimony (Kohl) that is used to line the eyes and used as a form of mascara and for clearing the vision.

Imām Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah – rahimahullāh – said:

“Kohl protects the health of the eyes and gives strength and clarity of vision, and cleanses the eye of foreign substances. Also some types of kohl serve as an adornment and if it is applied before going to bed, this is better. And ithmid is more efficacious than other types of kohl.”

Reference: Zādu Al-Ma’ād

As for whether it is Sunnah or not to line the eyes with it, then the Ulamā differed.

It is mentioned in Hāshiyah Al-Adawī:

“The lining of the eyes with Kohl is Sunnah to the Shāfi’iyyah and not to the Mālikiyyah”

The position of the Shāfi’iyyah is shared by the Hanbalis for they also held that it was Sunnah for both sexes.

Mālik permitted it in some Narrations from him, given that he declared it Halāl, and disliked it in other Narrations mentioning that it was an emulation of women.

Al-Bājī referred to this in Al-Muntaqā Shar’hu Al-Muwattā.

The Hanbalī Imām As-Safārīnī mentioned that the Ulamā preferred it’s usage at night before going to bed, and this is correct as mentioned by Ibn Qayyim in the Zād.

This takes the positions taken by the Ulamā on this matter to four:

First, that it is a Sunnah Recommended Act for men and women, and this is the position taken by the Shāfi’ī and Hanbalī Imāms.

Second, that it’s usage for men was permissible (Halāl) not Recommended (Mustahabb)

This is the Mālikī position.

Third, that it is permissible for men, but not for beautification, as this is an emulation of women. This is the position of the Hanafis and a narration from Mālik.

Fourth, that it is generally disliked for men, and this is also a narration in the Mālikī Madh’hab.

What seems stronger, and Allāh knows best is that it is recommended to be used by men but not for beautification as it is found in the Mālikī School.

This is because the use of it is a common position and deed of women for beautification reasons.

What we have said is shared by Shaykh Muhammad bn Sālih Al-‘Uthaymīn and others, and Allāh knows best.

As for it’s use by women, then none of the Ulamā mentioned a dislike that it be used.

And Allāh knows best.

Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran.

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