Truffles - from the Prophetic Sunnah Healing, Heritage, and Science

Truffles - from the Prophetic Sunnah Healing, Heritage, and Science 

Truffles (Arabic: kam'ah or kama'ah) occupy a special place in the Qur'an and Sunnah not because they are exotic culinary luxuries, but because the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) singled them out as a divinely-provided remedy and a sign of God’s bounty. 

The narrations transmitted in the two Sahih collections describe truffles as a kind of "manna" and note a specific medicinal use: the application of their juice for eye ailments. 

This article examines the textual evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah, surveys classical scholarly interpretation, and considers what modern scientific research can tell us about the pharmacological plausibility of those early medical reports. Throughout, I aim for a spiritual tone that honours the Prophetic tradition while remaining careful and evidence-focused in medical claims.

What the Prophet (ﷺ) Said about Truffles (Kam'ah): The Texts and Translations

The best-known reports on truffles appear in the authentic collections. One rendering found in Sahih al‑Bukhari reads in translation: "The truffle is among the manna, and its water cures the eye" (Sahih al‑Bukhari, hadith no. 5708; English: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5708). Sahih Muslim contains several closely related narrations transmitted through Sa'id b. Zaid which state: "Truffles are a kind of 'Manna' and their juice is a medicine for the eyes" (Sahih Muslim, Book 36 — see hadith entries commonly listed as no. 2049 / 5084–5089; example: https://sunnah.com/muslim:2049f). Classical sources add that the expressed "water" or juice from the truffle was applied topically to the eye in reported cases of recovery.

Understanding the Hadith: Classical Scholars and Interpretations

Classical commentators grappled with the vocabulary and implications of the reports: what exactly is meant by "manna" (al-mann), what kind of truffle is referenced, and how the remedy was prepared and used. 

Scholars such as Ibn Hajar and Ibn al‑Qayyim explained that "manna" in this context refers broadly to substances that grow spontaneously without cultivation a category in which the desert truffle (kam'ah) properly belongs. 

Ibn al‑Qayyim and other commentators recorded narrations indicating that companions like Abu Hurayrah and Qatadah reported the juice being used and producing a cure in specific cases. 

The classical literature therefore treats the hadith as both a report of divine provision and as a practical note within the Prophetic corpus of remedies (al‑Tibb al‑Nabawi). Importantly, commentators emphasize that the hadith does not license reckless self-treatment: it reports an observed remedy and, in the tradition of prophetic medicine, invites caution, consultation, and corroboration.

Truffles in Prophetic Medicine (al‑Tibb al‑Nabawi): Traditional Use for the Eyes

The traditional method recorded in early sources is simple: a truffle is squeezed, and the expressed juice sometimes called the water of the truffle was applied to the eye. Narratives describe instances of recovery following such treatment. 

For generations, Muslim practitioners and folk healers considered this report when addressing ocular complaints, and it became part of the broader corpus of Prophetic remedies that includes honey, black seed, cupping and other natural therapies. 

Classical authorities typically qualify the use: some recommend combining or preparing the juice in particular ways, and jurists and physicians of earlier eras sometimes advised using such remedies under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner. The Sunnah report therefore informs a tradition of medicinal practice while leaving room for prudence and the application of contemporaneous medical standards.

What Are Truffles? Biology and Cultural History

From a biological perspective, "truffle" refers to several groups of subterranean fungi. The species referenced in Islamic tradition are desert truffles (genera such as Terfezia and Tirmania) that grow in arid and semi‑arid regions and differ from the European culinary truffles (Tuber spp.) prized in haute cuisine. Desert truffles are known across North Africa and the Middle East and have a long history as both food and remedy. Culturally, they are often associated with sudden natural bounty — legends and folk names such as "Banat ar‑Ra'd" (daughters of thunder) reflect a longstanding popular awareness that truffles appear after rains and without human cultivation, making them a fitting example for the term "manna."

Modern Science: Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Evidence for Ocular Benefits

Contemporary scientific literature has begun to investigate the nutritional and pharmacological properties of various truffle species. Reviews and experimental studies note that truffles contain a range of bioactive compounds: antioxidants, phenolic substances, polysaccharides, and compounds with reported anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. 

A recent review, "Truffles: From Islamic culture to chemistry, pharmacology, and food trends in recent times" (see references), maps how truffles were historically valued and summarizes evidence for antimicrobial, anti‑inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in vitro and in animal models. Such properties provide plausible mechanisms by which topical extracts could benefit ocular inflammation or infection: antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory actions may reduce tissue damage and microbial effects may help in infectious conjunctivitis. However, the state of evidence must be stated plainly: most experimental work is in vitro or in animals, and there are no robust, modern randomized clinical trials demonstrating that truffle juice is an effective or safe ocular medicine in humans. Therefore, while laboratory findings give biological plausibility to the Prophetic report, they do not replace clinical evaluation and established ophthalmological treatment.

Reconciling Sunnah and Science: A Balanced Synthesis

The Prophetic report about the truffle is notable as an early ethnomedical observation: a naturally occurring substance used topically with reported benefit for the eyes. Modern science offers plausible mechanisms that could account for such benefits, but the evidence remains preliminary. 

From a faith perspective, the Sunnah provides both spiritual guidance and, in several narrations, practical medicinal notes that inspired centuries of observation and use. 

From a medical perspective, these observations are hypotheses amenable to scientific testing: the prophetic statement invites investigation but does not obviate the need for controlled research and professional medical care.

Practical Guidance: Safety, Harvesting, and Contemporary Applications

For readers interested in the tradition, a few practical cautions are essential. First, not all truffles are identical; species differ in chemistry and potential biological effects, and some fungal species may be unsuitable for medicinal use. Second, applying unsterilized plant or fungal juices directly to the eye can be risky; there is potential for contamination, irritation, or allergic reaction. Therefore, anyone considering traditional remedies should consult qualified healthcare professionals and avoid unverified homemade ocular treatments. When truffles are used culinarily or in consulted traditional therapeutic contexts, ensure proper identification, hygienic preparation, and medical supervision for ocular conditions. Islamic legal discussions about permissibility focus mainly on harvesting methods (e.g., whether contact with animals affects ritual purity) and do not invalidate the general permissibility of consuming or using naturally occurring truffles.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance: Lessons from the Sunnah

Beyond medical interest, the hadith about truffles invites spiritual reflection. It reminds believers that God's provision takes many forms including plants and fungi that grow without human effort and that the Prophetic example encompasses attention to ordinary remedies and to the ethical deployment of natural gifts. Reading the hadith within a spiritual frame encourages gratitude, moderation, and a humble openness to learning from both scripture and the created world.

FAQ

Q: Did the Prophet (ﷺ) really say truffles cure eye diseases?
A: Authentic narrations recorded in Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that truffles (kam'ah) are a kind of manna and that their juice is used for the eyes; see the hadith entries cited in the references below for wording and chains.

Q: How were truffles used traditionally for the eyes?
A: Classical narrations describe squeezing a truffle and applying the expressed juice to the eye. Commentators note variations in preparation and recommend caution and appropriate supervision.

Q: Are truffles safe to use as eye medicine today?
A: While laboratory evidence suggests plausible anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, there are no modern clinical trials that confirm safety and efficacy for ocular application in humans; always consult an ophthalmologist before using any traditional topical treatment.

References & Further Reading

- Hadith sources and searchable collections: Sunnah.com search results on "truffle / kam'ah" (see specific entries for Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim): https://sunnah.com/search?q=truffles and Sahih Muslim chapter pages on truffles: https://www.sahihmuslim.com.

- Scientific review: "Truffles: From Islamic culture to chemistry, pharmacology, and food trends in recent times" — ScienceDirect / ResearchGate (see abstract and review summary): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224418303406 and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334425172_Truffles_From_Islamic_culture_to_chemistry_pharmacology_and_food_trends_in_recent_times.

- Prophetic medicine commentary: Ibn al‑Qayyim and Ibn Hajar discussions summarized in Tibb‑e‑Nabawi resources and IslamWeb explanatory articles: https://tibbenabawi.org/healing-by-herbs/herbs-from-kaaf-to-yaa/kamah-mushroom and https://www.islamweb.net/en/printfatwa.php?id=6810.