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Were the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions adorning themselves with henna and kohl and appearing with them in public, or were they used for medicinal purposes and removed before drying, and is there in that an imitation of women?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Henna is used as a treatment, and among its established benefits is its efficacy in treating headaches and leg pain, and it is permissible. It is also used for adornment. Dyeing gray hair with henna for both men and women, but not with black dye, is commendable, as it goes against the practice of Jews and Christians. The best substance for dyeing gray hair is a mixture of henna and katam. Dyeing the hands and feet with henna is permissible for women. As for kohl (antimony), it is a sunnah for both men and women equally, and ithmid (antimony sulfide) is the best type of kohl. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to apply it three times in each eye due to its health and cosmetic benefits.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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