Qust (Costus Root, Aloeswood) and its use in Medicinal preparations.

There are essentially two types of Qust, Indian (Qust al Hindi) and Marine/Sea (Qust al Bahri).  Both come in the form of a dried root and Qust has a praised high status in the aHadith which is on par with Hijama cupping.

Imam Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah (rahimullah) said that both types of Qust provide considerable medicinal benefits. Qust is one of the remedies to always have at home which I must recommend to all my brothers and sisters who are serious about using Tibb an Nabawi to treat themselves and their loved ones.

Qust is hot and dry in the third degree and helps to dry out excess phlegm, help to remedy colds and influenza and nasal congestion. Imam Ibn Al Qayyim said that drinking an infusion of Qust helps strengthen the liver and helps to remedy weakness of digestion, slackness of the stomach, and if used as an ointment, it helps backache or rheumatic pain in the lumbar region. 

Sea/Marine Qust is a little paler in colour and also milder in taste and more suitable for administering to children.

Qust al Bahri root before it is powdered for use. This photo is owned by our brothers at tibbenabawi.org

Imam Ibn Al Qayyim said that Qust is also very beneficial for illnesses relating to breathing and the chest - pleurisy (a type of painful infection of the lining of the lungs), asthma, heaviness in the chest (breathing difficulties) and it helps to reduce thirst. It also helps remove freckles, fade scars and helps to control skin discolouration on the face and the chest which results from pregnancy or malnutrition.

Galen noted that Qust can also help kill ringworm (intestinal parasites) and if applied as an ointment can remove dry scales which are shed by the skin, including dandruff.

In the Sunan, the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) praises the excellence of Qust as a general remedy and he is also reported mentioning it as a remedy for inflammation/infection of the throat as well as in another Hadith mentioning it with Hijama. Qust contains helicene and benzoic acid, both of which are substances that kill germs, hence the benefit in the treatment of infections and inflammations.

Reference to Hadith regarding the general excellence of Qust, and partnering it with Hijama in the same sentence.

Anas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that he was asked about the wages of the one who cups others. He said, "Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was cupped by `Abd Taiba, to whom he gave two Sa of food and interceded for him with his masters who consequently reduced what they used to charge him daily. Then the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "The best medicines you may treat yourselves with are cupping and sea incense.' He added, "You should not torture your children by treating tonsillitis by pressing the tonsils or the palate with the finger, but use incense."

Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 599.

Qust will be used in Jannah.

It was narrated by Abu Huraira (radhi Allahu anhu) that Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "The first group of people who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon and those who will follow them, will glitter like the most brilliant star in the sky. They will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers [as a fuel]. Their wives will be Houris. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in statute), sixty cubits tall."

Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 544

In respect of treating children for inflammation of the Uvula and its use in the treatment Pleurisy (a type of chest infection).

Umm Qasis (radhi Allahu anha) , the daughter of Mihsan said; "I brought my son to the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) while I had compressed his uvula for its swelling. He (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "Why do you afflict your children [hurt them] by squeezing for a swelling in the Uvula? Apply this Indian aloes wood, for it contains seven types of remedies, among them being a remedy for pleurisy. It is applied through the nose for a swelling of the uvula poured into the side of the mouth for pleurisy."

Sunan Abi Dawood in Kitaab At Tibb Book 28, Hadith 3868. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah)

Abu Dawood (may Allah be pleased with him) added "By Aloeswood he meant Costus."

Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani said concerning pleurisy that "it is a hot swelling that appears in the membrane covering the ribs."

Modern medical description of pleurisy - http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/pleurisy-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment

Administration.

Qust is usually used on its own or partnered with water, honey or olive oil.

For tonsillitis.

Qust al Bahri powder.

Qust al Hindi powder should be inhaled through the nose as per the previously quoted Hadith.

The benefits behind administering medicine by snuffing (Sa'oot) - http://tibbenabawi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:tonsillitis-a-saoot&Itemid=94

For fading Freckles and spots, skin discolouration, scars, burns.

According to Ibn Al Qayyim's work 'At Tibb an Nabawwi', the ointment is made by mixing Qust al Hindi powder in equal parts with good quality raw honey and add a very small amount of clean water. The paste should not be runny so that it runs off the skin but should stick to the area where it is applied. I would personally advise to apply to the area once per day for 30 minutes, then wash it off.

This ointment is also recommended to be applied to help aid the healing of incisions of Hijama to help minimize scarring in those patients who have thin skin, are diabetic or elderly or are generally prone to scarring or where they have had cupping applied to the face.

It can also be used as a compress to dress the hijama incisions of patients who are hemophilic or taking blood thinning medications. Smear the mixture onto a sterile lint gauze or cotton fabric and apply to the skin, holding the gauze in place with medical adhesive tape. Once you are sure the wound has stopped bleeding, remove the dressing so as to encourage airflow and the formation of the hemostatic plug.

As an external application for rheumatic pain and as a hair oil.

Qust should be mixed in Olive oil as it was none other than Rasool'Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) himself who instructed His Ummah to use olive oil for eating and for massage. Qust infused olive oil should be massaged on the points of pain/joints in the evening before bed.

To make the massage oil, take 50g each of dried whole henna leaves and Qust whole root pieces (or its powder) and fry them on a very very low heat in around 250ml of good quality olive oil for 1 hour with continuous stirring. Make sure the heat is kept very low or the ingredients will burn. The oil will turn dark but it should not smell burnt. Once the oil has cooled down, filter it through muslin cloth, add 10 drops of the essential oil of Spikenard (Jatamansi) and then transfer it to a container bottle. Insha'Allah, it will over time should help to strengthen the bones and joints as well as have a rapid effect on the pain.

Jatamansi is not essential so you can omit it if you cannot find it.

This same blend can be used twice a week as a conditioner for the hair which will also help relieve dandruff insha'Allah.

For runny nose, colds and flu.

Qust should be ground to a powder and gently snuffed in the nose. The patient should be lying down with their head and shoulders slightly elevated and their head tilted back.

For chest infections, pleurisy and asthma.

The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhi wassallam) said it should be administered from the side of the mouth, and the right side is better than the left. Because it is bitter-tasting, there is less risk in coughing or nausea when it is administered from the side of the mouth but this is a general observation rather than recorded in the teachings of the pious predecessors and Allah knows best.
Qust al Hindi can be mixed with an equal quantity of honey and then smeared on the inside of the cheek. This should be administered three times daily, after meals.

For stomach, liver, digestion problems, IBS, Crohn's or intestinal parasites.

Honey paste with Qust al Bahri and crushed Black seeds.

Mix 50g Qust al Bahri powder with 50g dry roasted ground black seeds (nigella sativa) in a jar of raw honey. You can optionally add 10 edible silver leaves if you wish.

Because the Qust infusion needs to be drunk, take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture twice each day dissolved in a hot cup of green tea. The seeds will settle at the bottom of the cup so make sure you stir and agitate it so that you drink the crushed seeds too. In two weeks insha'Allah you will notice a considerable difference and have much more energy.

Black seeds can easily be dry roasted in a frying pan at home and ground in your spice grinder. Raw honey, depending where it is sourced from, is sometimes set hard in texture, you can gently warm it in the microwave to make stirring in the Qust powder and blackseeds easier. Keep the mixture stored in a cool dark place.

Pregnant ladies must always check with their doctor before taking any herbs, supplements or medicines.

Buy Qust in the UK from here - http://www.healthmeanswealth.co.uk/Qist_Shop.php

Sunnah Treatments, including Ruqyah - Recitation from the Qur'an as used for the treatment of Magic (Sorcery / Jadoo), Evil Eye (Nazar), Jinn complications

Asalaamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatu,

The reality is that issues with the Jinn are very common and a lot of people are suffering, sometimes for many years, with symptoms they think are either completely normal or uncureable - nightmares, insomnia, migraines, epilepsy, abdominal bloating, infertility, miscarriage, bipolar disorder, unexplained aches and pains and many others.

Every illness is cureable with the permission of Allah, simply from reciting the powerful words of Allah, the Most Gracious. As Allah Azzawajjal says in the Holy Qur'an;

"And We sent down of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe." [17:82]

and also;

"O Mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (the Qur'an) enjoining all that is good and forbidding all that is evil, and a healing for that which is in your breasts, a guidance and a mercy for the believers." [10-57]

Some verses from the Qur'aan which can be used as Ar Ruqyah Ash Shari'ah.

Recite 11 times each the following Surah's and verses;

1 Al Fatihah
2 Al Baqarah (1 to 4 inclusive)
2 Al Baqarah (102)
2 Al Baqarah (255 to 257 inclusive)
2 Al Baqarah (284 to 286 inclusive)
4 An Nisaa' (76)
7 Al 'Ar'aaf (117 to 122 inclusive)
10 Yunus (81 and 82)
17 Al 'Isra' (82)
20 TaaHaa (68 to 70 inclusive)
109 Al Kaafiroon
112 Al Ikhlaas
113 Al Falaq
114 An Naas

Spittle on water which is used to drink and bathe in. Catch the water used for bathing and pour it in the garden rather than letting it go down the drain.

Spittle on pure olive oil which is used for daily massage on the points of pain and used before, during and after Hijama.

Keep all bottles sealed and in a clean spot out of direct sunlight.

The Blessings of Henna

Dyeing the Hair.

The dyeing of hair with Henna (and Katam) is well established from the Sahih Sunnah. Al Muwaffaq Al Baghdadi says, "The colour of Henna is like Fire and is well liked and attractive. It has a pleasant smell. Most of the early generation (Salaf) dyed their hair with it."

The Holy Prophet's encouragement to change the colour of the grey hair;

It was narrated by Abu Dharr (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "The best things with which grey hair are changed are Henna and Katam."

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 34, Hadith 4193. Classed as Sahih by Al Albani.

And also;

It was narrated by Abu Huraira (radhi Allahu anhu) that Allah's Apostle (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "The Jews and the Christians do not dye (their grey hair), so you shall do the opposite of what they do (i.e. dye your grey hair and beards)."

The Holy Prophet's personal use of Henna and Katam;

It was narrated that ‘Uthman bin Mawhab (radhi Allahu anhu) said: “I entered upon Umm Salamah (radhi Allahu anha) and she brought out for me a hair of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), which was dyed with Henna and Katam.”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 32, Hadith 3623. Classed as Sahih.

Abu Bakr Siddique's use of Henna and Katam;

It was narrated by Anas (radhi Allahu anhu) that "When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) arrived (at Medina), there was not a single companion of the Prophet who had grey and black hair except Abu Bakr (radhi Allahu anhu), and he dyed his hair with Henna and Katam (i.e. plants used for dying hair). Through another group of narrators, Anas bin Malik (radhi Allahu anhu) said,. "When the Prophet arrived at Medina, the eldest amongst his companions was Abu Bakr. He dyed his hair with Hinna and Katam till it became of dark red color."

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 257

Dr Samas Qasi confirms that Henna paste may be applied to the scalp for lengthy periods (4-12 hours) so that the purifying and astringent substances in Henna may work on clearing the scalp of germs, parasites, dandruff and excess oily secretions.  

To make henna paste for dying hair and skin, fresh henna powder should be mixed with enough lemon juice so that it has the consistency of yogurt, and then it should be tightly covered and allowed to sit for 24 hours prior to use. This allows the acidic lemon to break down the henna leaves and release the dye. Henna should be left on the skin or hair for a minimum of 4 hours to ensure a darker stain.

Usefulness in the treatment of skin, nails, wounds and burns.

The water in which henna leaves have been boiled is good for the treatment of burns, as is the paste itself.

The paste of Henna is also useful in the treatment of brittle nails. Women are encouraged to apply henna to their hands and nails so as to make their hands distinct from those of men and unfortunately this custom is usually only reserved for special occasions like Eid. However, it must be noted that henna patterns which depict living creatures, mythical animals or which copy the traditional symbols of other religions are forbidden in Islam.

Dr Samas Qasi said that Henna paste is also beneficial in the treatment of fungal infections, particularly those that occur in the folds of skin and between the toes and it also helps to heal wounds. 

Henna blossoms placed inside folded garments also prevent moth attack.

Henna Water is useful as a detoxifyer and cleanser of the kidney and liver.

References - 

Islamic Medicine - The Key to a Better Life. By Yusuf Al Hajj Ahmad. Darussalam 2010.