The Arabic Name of Black Cumin is Habb al-Sauda (Tradition) Shoniz, Habb al-Barkat. Other are Black Cumin (English); Nielle (French, German); Melanthion (Greek); Shoniz, Siah Dana (Persian); Ketzach, Ketyach (Hebrew); CorekOtu (Turk); Kalaunji (Hindi, Urdu); KrishnJirak, Karavi (Sanskrit). Its Botanical Source is Nigella sativa Linn and belongs to the Family of Ranunculaceae,a Herb. Its Distribution is Mediterranean Region and is cultivated in many countries, including India.
Prophetic Traditions on Black Cumin
Prophet Muhammad ﷺsaid, “Black Cumin (Habb: Sauda) is the cure for all the diseases except Saam and “Saam is death”. (Narrated by Abu Huraira; Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmed)
I came to Madina with Ghalib bin Al-Jabr. During the journey, Ghalib fell ill. Ibn Atique came to see him and said: ‘Ayesha narrated that Prophet Muhammad ﷺsaid, “Black cumin is remedy for all diseases.” We powdered Black cumin, mixed with olive oil and dropped it in both the nostrils (of Ghalib). We did it and Ghalib recovered. (Narrated Khalid Bin Saad; Ibn Majah, Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid, “Black cumin is the cure for all ailments except death (Tradition; Saam).
(Narrated byBurda; Musnad Ahmed)
Apostle of Allah ﷺsaid, “Make Black cumin obligatory (its use as medicine) for you as it is a cure for every disease except Saam”. Someone asked, “What is Saam”. He said, “Death”. (Narrated Ayesha; Musnad Ahmed; Abdullah bin ‘Umar; Ibn Majah; Abu Hurairah; Tirmidhi).
Hazrat Ayesha said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say that every disease can be cured with these black seeds (Hadith,Hab al-Sauda). But Saam. I asked what is Saam. He said death. (Narrated by Hazrat Khalid bin Saad. Ibn Majah)
In addition to the above-mentioned Traditions, there are several other Hadiths in which Black Cumin has been described as a medicine of great value. Some of the books on the Life of the Prophet Muhammad (Sirat-al-Nabi) ﷺhave reported that he used to take Black Cumin with honey regularly. It must be borne in mind that the Prophet ﷺalso gave great emphasis on the use of medicines in general and HabbSauda in particular to cure various ailments and that is why he used to say that it is a “medicine for all ailments except Saami.e. death”.
As a matter of fact, he gave this advice with the word SAAM with several other such medicines also which only indicates that he laid emphasis on the use of medicine. According to Arabic Dictionaries,Saam ((سامmeans Poison, Poisonous and lethal. While describing the Hadiths about the use of Black Cumin (Habal- Sauda), Bukhari and Muslim always used the word Saam and explained it to be like death.
It must be born in mind the word death comes as explanation of Saam in Hadiths, It is, therefore, necessary that the spirit (emphasis on using medicine) of these Hadiths should always be kept in mind while expressing them or using for medical and commercial purposes.
Scholars of Traditions have generally reported that Hab al-Sauda is the Arabic name of Shoniz (Persian).And these black seeds are also called Kammun Aswad (Black Cumin). In Persian, names like SiahBiranjor Siah Dana are also given which mean Black seed. It must be made clear that cumin (Arabic, Kamun) are the seeds from Cuminum cyminum (known as Zira in Hindi, Urdu and Persian). Likewise, caraway seeds from Carum Carvi are also called Siah Zira although these are quite different from the seeds of Nigella Sativa.
The seeds of Ipomoea hederacea are also called Kala Danai.e. Black Seeds, in Indian bazaar. Even the black seeds of Mustard (Brassica Nigra) are also sometimes termed Kala Dana (Arabic; Khardal Aswad). Thus, it may be said that there is a lot of confusion in the identities of names like Kala Dana, Siyah Dana, Kala Zira, Siyah Zira, etc. but the black seeds referred to in the Tradition under the name Habb al-Sauda are definitely the seeds from Nigella Sativa and may be called Black Cumin.
Habb al-Sauda has also been mentioned in the Bible under the name of Ketzach (Hebrew), which is translated as Black Cumin in the Jastrow version of the Bible. (Isaiah 28: 25 &27) Some other versions have translated Ketzach as fitches or fennel but according to the recent researchers of the Bible, correct name for Ketzach is Black Cumin only.
Hippocratus and Dioscorides have mentioned Black Cumin as Melathion whereas Pliny termed it as Gith. According to Ibn Arabi, Habbal-Sauda has also been referred to as HabbeKhizra in old Arabic literature but Hasan Kamal in his Encyclopaedia of Islamic Medicine considersHabbeKhizra to be the seeds of Pistacia terebinthus. The word Shoniz for Habbal- Sauda is also referred to as Shiniz in Persian literature.
Black cumin (seeds) is used as flavours in food. As medicine it is carminative, stimulant, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactagogue and used for puerperal fever. Also, applied externally for skin affection. The seeds contain an essential oil, which is useful in cough and bronchial asthma. The seeds have antibacterial activity. It is an aromatic adjunct to purgative.
A decoction of seeds given just after delivery increases the secretion of milk. It is a good remedy in dyspepsia, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and intermittent fevers. Also useful in amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhea. Locally used, it removes painful swellings of hands and feet.
Black Cumin Seeds contain an essential oil as well as a fatty oil of high medicinal value. Saponin is also present.
Nigella Sativa is an annual flowering plant, native to Southwest Asia. It grows to 20-30cms tall, with finely divided, linear (but not thread-like) leaves. The flowers are delicate, and usually coloured pale blue and white, with 5-10 petals. The fruit is a large and inflated capsule composed of 3-7 united follicles, each containing numerous seeds. The seed is used as a spice.
Avicenna, most famous for his The Canon of Medicine, refers to Nigella as the seed that stimulates the body’s energy and helps recovery from fatigue and dispiritedness.
Dr. Robert W. Lebling, Jr., reports that Habbal-Souda (Habbat al-Barakah) are known as the “seeds of blessing.” The seed is not only a spice but also a valued traditional medicine to treat such ailments as asthma, flatulence, polio, kidney stones and abdominal pain.
Nigella seeds, according to Dr. Robert, are used in different ways like 1) Eating seeds plain; 2) Eating a teaspoon of seed mixed with honey; 3) Boiling seed with water. Straining and drinking; 4) Heating seed and warm milk until it just begins to boil. Heating with water, cooling and then drinking; 5) Grinding the seed and swallowing it with water or milk; 6) Sprinkle the seed on bread and pastries; 7) Burning the seed with Bukhoor(incense) for a pleasant scent. According to German immunologist, Dr. Peter Schleicher, black seed halts immune reactions and checks many chronic diseases like eczema, asthma and even cancer.
The Prophet ﷺ used to soak 20 seeds wrapped in a linen cloth in water overnight, and place drops of this solution into his nostrils to relieve congestion and colds. (Al-Akili, Medicine of the Prophet).