The sunnah method of applying antimony (surma) and applying it at night

Question

Assalam Alaikum 

  1. What is the Sunnah method for using or applying Antimony (Surma)?
  2. Is it adviseable to use Antimony (Surma) in the day or only in the night?
Answer

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

There are a few different sunnah methods of applying antimony in one’s eyes. A few are mentioned below:

  1. To apply antimony three times in the right eye and then three times in the left.

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) would apply antimony every night three times in each eye.

(Shamaail Tirmizi)

  1. To apply antimony once in the right eye and then once in the left. Thereafter, continue in the same sequence until it has been applied three times in the right eye and twice in the left.

Ibn Umar has related that the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) used to apply antimony (surmah) thrice in the right eye and twice in the left eye. (He would start with the right eye, then the left, and would then continue in this sequence until he would finish with the right eye) 

(Tabrani)

As far as the timing of application, it is sunnah for antimony to be applied at night. However, it is also permissible to apply it during the day. 

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) would apply his antimony before going to sleep three times in each eye. 

(Shamaail Tirmizi)

والله اعلم

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Sulaiman Yusufi

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani