Ithmid Surma is kohl/antimony that has been mined in the eastern countries. It is reddish black in colour. It has a distinct smell that is very different from other types of kohl. This is one of the factors that distinguishes good kuhl from the others. Ithmid kohl is known to brighten the eyesight and strengthens/enhances growth of eye lashes. It has also been proven to treat various eye related ailments and this has been documented in several scientific studies.
It is Mustahab to apply Surma (kohl) thrice in the eyes every night. Ibn Abbas rahiallahu ‘anhu reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ‘alalayhi wa sallam) had a container of antimony which he used to use for his eyes every night before sleeping. He would apply it in each eye thrice.
The ‘ulama have explained that the hadiths mention that the best kohl to use is the one that is made from Ithmid. This is because it is more beneficial for the eyes. However, if a person uses kohl that is not made from Ithmid and it agrees with his eyesight, then there is no harm in doing so.
Many people are confused over this issue because the word “ithmid” is not confined to one specific mineral or stone. It can be found in many places and each of them has a different chemical composition. This is the reason why it is not a simple matter to just identify it by sticking a name on it. This is why it is important for people to be knowledgeable on this topic and not rely on the names and logos of companies which may mislead them. Ithmid Surma