رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Prophet's Guidance on treating Constipation

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي عِلَاجِ يُبْسِ الطَّبْعِ، وَاحْتِيَاجِهِ إِلَى مَا يُمَشِّيهِ وَيُلَيِّنُهُ

Guidance of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم on treating bodily dryness and the need for remedies that promote digestion and soften the system

رَوَى الترمذي فِي جَامِعِهِ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ فِي سُنَنِهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أسماء بنت عميس، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:  بِمَاذَا كُنْتِ تَسْتَمْشِينَ ؟ قَالَتْ: بِالشُّبْرُمِ، قَالَ حَارٌّ جَارٌّ ، قَالَتْ: ثُمَّ اسْتَمْشَيْتُ بِالسَّنَا، فَقَالَ:  لَوْ كَانَ شَيْءٌ يَشْفِي مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَكَانَ السَّنَا

Ibn al Qayyam wrote : In Jami’ al-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah, it is narrated from Asma bint Umais, who said: The Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم asked, “What do you use as a laxative?” She replied, “I use Shubrum.” The Prophet said, “It is hot and harsh.” She then mentioned using Sana (a natural laxative), to which he responded, “If anything could cure death, it would be Sana.”

وَفِي سُنَنِ ابْنِ مَاجَهْ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْلَةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عبد الله بن أم حرام، وَكَانَ قَدْ صَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْقِبْلَتَيْنِ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:  عَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّنَا وَالسَّنُوتِ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمَا شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ إِلَّا السَّامَ ، قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! وَمَا السَّامُ؟ قَالَ:  الموت

In another narration in Sunan Ibn Majah, Ibrahim ibn Abi Ablah reported that he heard Abdullah ibn Umm Haram, who prayed with Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم facing both Qiblas, say: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, ‘Use Sana and Sanoot, for indeed in them there is a cure for every disease, except SAAM.’” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What is SAAM?” He replied, “It is the DEATH.”

The statement of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, “What do you use as a laxative?” refers to a method of softening the body so that waste can pass easily and doesn’t remain blocked, causing harm due to retained waste. This is why a laxative is referred to as “mashiyan” (walking or moving), emphasizing its role in aiding movement.

It is said that the term was used because those taking laxatives often need to move frequently due to necessity. In one narration, he asked, “What do you seek a cure with?” and she replied, “With Shubrum,” a strong and drying plant bark known for its powerful laxative effects, though it is generally advised against by physicians due to its extreme potency.

The Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) description of Shubrum as “hot and harsh” highlights its strong purgative properties. The word “Haar” (hot) is emphasized by the word “Jaar” or “Yaar” to intensify the effect.

Shubrum is among the purgative medicines. It is the bark of the root of a tree, and it is extremely hot and dry in the fourth degree. The best type is reddish, light, thin, and resembles rolled-up leather. Generally, it is one of the medicines that physicians have advised against using due to its danger and its excessive laxative effect."

Sana is a medicinal plant, with the best variety coming from Makkah. It is a safe, balanced remedy that is mildly hot and dry, and it effectively expels yellow and black bile, strengthens the heart, and is beneficial against anxiety and bodily pains. It opens up obstructions, is good for hair loss, lice, chronic headaches, itching, and skin issues. Drinking Sana as a decoction (boiled in water) is preferable to consuming it as a powder.

Al-Razi states that both Sana and Shahtraj (FUMARIA~a herb) purify the burned humors in the body and relieve scabies and itching.

Regarding the term Sanoot, there are eight interpretations:

1. Some scholars say it refers to honey.
2. Others say it is the thick layer on top of ghee that sometimes has black streaks. This was reported by Amr ibn Bakr Al-Saksaki.
3. Another view is that Sanoot is a seed similar to cumin but not actually cumin, as stated by Ibn Al-A'rabi.
4. It could also be a type of cumin known as Kermani cumin.
5. Some say it is Razianaj (FENNEL seeds). These two interpretations were reported by Abu Hanifah Al-Dinawari from some Arabs.
6. Another view is that it refers to Dill.
7. Some believe it refers to dates. These two interpretations were mentioned by Abu Bakr ibn Al-Sunni.
8. Lastly, some say it is honey found within bags of ghee, an opinion shared by Abdul Latif Al-Baghdadi, who states that this view is the most likely correct interpretation.

According to some physicians, this interpretation makes the most sense and is closest to the intended meaning. It suggests that Sanoot is honey mixed with ghee, which, when combined with powdered Sana and consumed as a paste, enhances its effectiveness. The honey and ghee improve the Sana’s effectiveness as a laxative.

وَقَدْ رَوَى الترمذي وَغَيْرُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَرْفَعُهُ :  إن خير ما تداويتم به السعوط واللدود وَالْحِجَامَةُ وَالْمَشِيُّ

Additionally, it is narrated in Jami’ al-Tirmidhi and other sources from Ibn Abbas, attributed to Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم “The best treatments you have are nasal treatments (Sa’oot~medicine inserted in the nose), oral treatments (Ladood), cupping (Hijamah), and laxatives (Mashiy).” Here, Mashiy refers to remedies that stimulate and soften the stools, easing the body’s natural processes for passing waste.

Sana Makki

Dill seeds

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