Ithmid is a natural mineral stone powder that when applied to the eyes and surrounding hair it beautifies the eyes in a unique and different way. It also carries huge health benefits for the eye. The Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam encouraged us to use it as he viewed it as a sunnah.
The black type of ithmid kohl is thought to be a form of galena and the red/burgundy ithmid kohl is thought to be some form of antimony. Ithmid is an important part of the Muslim faith and it has been used for thousands of years as a natural kohl. It is also believed to be an effective remedy for many common eye related ailments. Research has shown that ithmid helps to keep the skin of the eyes healthy by lowering intraocular pressure and acts as a vasodilator.
Another benefit of ithmid is that it can act as a natural UV blocker. The powdered nature of ithmid helps to reflect the UV rays that can be harmful to the eyes. It is therefore advised to use it in sunny weather and also to cover the eyes when out and about.
It is important to note that there are many different ithmid types and the rocks that contain it can differ significantly at the micro level. This is because minerals are made of a large number of elements and compounds and can have very different properties. For this reason it is often not possible to identify a particular rock or mineral by its name.