Explanation of the author's statement: "And he applies oil on alternate days and applies kohl on odd nights."

The Shaykh : He said, "And he applies oil on alternate days". "Applies oil" means he uses oil on his hair. "On alternate days" means one day he does it and the next day he does not. It is not necessary that it be strictly one day on and one day off in that order; he may do it one day and skip two, or do it two days and skip one. The important thing is that he does not use it constantly, because if he uses it constantly, he becomes one of the indulgent people who care only about their physical appearance. This is among the matters that are not praiseworthy. In Sunan Abu Dawud, it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade excessive indulgence. That is to say, a person should not indulge himself excessively. Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, . Fatness appears in them because of their excessive indulgence, because a person who does not indulge himself does not gain weight. This is evidence that excessive indulgence is not praiseworthy. As for abandoning it entirely, abandoning the use of oil, that is also bad, because it causes a person to be unkempt, with his head like a thorny tree, which is not beautiful or good. A person should be moderate between these two. "And he applies kohl on odd nights".

The questioner : ... ؟

The Shaykh : No, it appears that this varies. If his hair is thin, what is the benefit of applying oil constantly? It will just run down onto his shoulders and bother him. It appears that he does not need it; water is sufficient for him. "He applies kohl on odd nights". "Applies kohl" means applying kohl to the eye. "On odd nights" means three times in each eye, every night. Yes, every night. But with what should he apply kohl? They said he should apply kohl with antimony (ithmid). Antimony is a type of kohl that is very good and beneficial for the eye. If you wish to know about it, read Zad al-Ma'ad by Ibn al-Qayyim. It is one of the best types of kohl for strengthening the eyesight. It is said that Zura' al-Yamamah—and I think she is known to you—could see a distance of three days' journey with her naked eye. Three days! I do not know if you are looking at a distance of twenty meters. They said that when she was killed, they had to look at this eye that could see a distance of three days' journey, and they found that the veins of her eye were almost filled with antimony, because it is good for the eye. A person should apply kohl. This application of kohl is good. Is the application of kohl for beautifying the eye prescribed for the man, or is it prescribed only for the woman? It appears it is prescribed only for the woman, because the man does not need to beautify his eye. It may be said that it is also prescribed for the man, because when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked, they said, "O Messenger of Allah, one of us loves for his sandal to be good and his garment to be good," he said, . It may also be said that for the man, if there is a defect in his eye that requires applying kohl, then it is prescribed for him. But if his eye is normal, it is not prescribed.