With it (water) He produces for you corn, olives, date palms, and grapes and every kind of fruit: Verily in this is a sign for those who give thought (Surat: An-Nahl: 16:11). Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying “There is healing in Black Cumin for all diseases except death.”

Muslims have been using and promoting the use of the “Black Seed” or “Al-habbat ul Sawda” for hundreds of years.

Black seed has also been in use worldwide for over 3,000 years. However, many Muslims do not realize that black seed is not only a prophetic herb, but it also holds a unique place in the medicine of the Prophet.

Black seed is mentioned along with many other natural cures in the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Mohammad [SAW]) and in the Qur’an.

However, many herbs and natural cures in the Hadith and Qur’an are simply “mentioned” briefly, leaving the bulk of the descriptive narrative up to later Islamic scholars such as Ibn Sina or Ibn Rushd.

Black seed is one of the few that is said to “cure all diseases except death.”

It is unique in that it was not used profusely before the Prophet Mohammad who made its use popular, and it is one of the few herbs that is described in great detail in the Hadith with recipes and instructions on usage actually being found in the Hadith themselves.

Last, but not least, black seed has been studied by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Although there were more than 400 herbs in use before the Prophet Mohammad and recorded in the herbals of Galen and Hippocrates, black seed was not one of the most popular remedies of the time.

Because of the way Islam has spread, the usage and popularity of black seed is widely known as a “remedy of the Prophet”.

In fact, a large part of this herbal preparation’s popularity is based on the teachings of the Prophet.

The Prophet not only mentioned the usefulness of black seed in his teachings, but also gave specific instructions on how to prepare the seed for medical use.

“The Prophet’s Medicine” is a collection of Hadith that instruct Muslims on the subject of sickness or medical treatment.

Since the black seed is mentioned so prominently in these writings, all eminent and famous hakims of the past and present have written on the medicinal benefits and healing properties of “kulunji.”

In reality, since it was made popular in the 7^th Century, there has not been a period in Muslim history when the use of it was ever stopped.

At all times the seed was utilized with the belief and faith that benefits will be derived from practicing the Holy Prophet’s Sunnah (Hana, 2001).

The black seed (nigella sativa) is an example of a prophetic remedy that has been studied extensively by both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Nigella sativa has been used since antiquity by Asian herbalists and pharmacists, and was used by the Romans for culinary purposes.

The name nigella comes from the Latin word nigellus, meaning black. Nigella sativa are small matte black grains with a rough surface and an oily white interior, similar to onion seeds.

The seeds have little bouquet, though when rubbed, their aroma resembles oregano.

They have a slightly bitter, peppery flavor and a crunchy texture. The seeds may be used whole or ground and are usually fried or roasted before use (they are easily crushed in a mortar).

However, although the seeds have been used for thousands of years in the kitchen, they have also been useful in the pharmacy.

Modern Studies