Cress (Assaf’a)(الثفاء)

Types
1. Garden cress. (Also known as pepper cress)
2. Land cress,
3. Water cress.

Names of cress

Latin name is Lepidium sativum.
English name is Cress.
Arabic name is Al-Rashad. (Hubbur Rashad)
Hadis name for its seeds is As-Safa. (الثفاء) & its plant is called as Hurf.
In Syria it is called as Al-Baqdosnis Al-Haad.
Hindi and Urdu name is chandrashoor, kachri Methi.
Its seeds are called in Hindi & Urdu as Halim, chandrashoor etc.

Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ’s guidance about Cress

Arabic words written in below references are the words mentioned in respected Hadees. You can confirm the references of Hadees at sunna.com & Al-Maktab Al-Shamilah (المكتبة الشاملة) also.

Cress, a cure for all diseases  
1. Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه , said to Qais Ibn Rafi رضي الله عنه   that Rasool Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said that “You have Assafa (الثفاء) (cress) present for you; Allah (Ta’lah) has put healing in it for every disease. : Reference At-Tibbe Nabawi (Al-Jawzi) ; page no. 640.

Two Bitter things
2. Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbas رضي الله عنه  says that Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked “What kind of healing is in two bitter things Assafa (الثفاء) (cress) & Sabr (الصبر) (Aloe Vera)”.  : Reference Alhaawi Alkabeer volume no. 3; page no. 243.

To fumigate our houses
3. Hazrat Abdullah Bin Jafar & Hazrat Aaban Bin Sualeh Bin Anas رضي الله عنه   says that Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم advice to fumigate (dhooni with smokes) our house with Esheeh (الشيح), Mur (المر) & Sau’atar (الصعتر).  : Reference Baihaqi: 5679.
4. Hazrat Abdullah Bin Jaffar رضي الله عنه   says that Nabi صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said that “Fumigate your houses with Esheeh (الشيح) & Loban (اللبان)”.      : Reference Baihaqi: 5678.
Esheeh (الشيح) according to many scholars is dried leaves of cress (may also be some other plant) (Refer Lesson no. 21 Cress), Sau’atar (الصعتر) is Thymus serphyllum & it is used in fumigation (dhooni) (Refer Lesson no. 31), Mur (المر) is a gum of a tree. (Refer Lesson no. 47) refer Lesson no. 45 Loban (اللبان).
Logan (اللبان) is called as Olibanum (Styrax benzoin) and Frankin cense in English. It is obtained from a tree, it is gum of it.    (Refer Lesson no. 45 Loban (اللبان) also).

Contents 

carbohydrates, sugar, dietary fibers, protein, vitamin A, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, vitamin E, vitamin K, Calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorous, potassium.

Scientific benefits of cress

1. Good for eye diseases.
2. Increases sexual desire.
3. Reduces allergy, worms, cough.
4. Helps in dysentery, scurvy diseases, asthma, chronic cough, removes phlegm.
5. Reduces swelling, pain, bronchitis, bleeding

6. Helps in piles, diabetes, leprosy, skin diseases.
7. It stops diarrhea & leucorrhoea.
8. Improves lungs function.
9. Heals dyspepsia, lumbago, spleenomegaly.
10. It increases urine output.
11. Reduces fever.

Science & Hadees regarding Cress

In Hadees, it is mentioned that use cress for curing your disease because it has healing in all disease

According to research its therapeutic uses are for: – Coughs, head colds, bronchial ailments, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema, stress, pain, arthritis, stiff back and joints, diabetes, anemia, constipation, cataracts, failing eyesight, night blindness, leukemia, cancer, hemorrhaging, heart conditions, eczema, scabies, body deodorizer, edema, bleeding gums, weight loss, indigestion, alcoholism, intestinal parasites, circulation, sluggish menstruation, lack of energy, kidney and gall stones, as a brain and nerve strengthener; ailments of the spleen, thyroid, and liver; to normalize cholesterol and blood pressure; for improved memory, for mental function decline and to retard ageing; for failing or scant milk supply of nursing mothers; to regulate flow of bile, health of glands and the functions of body metabolism. It is one of the best sources of iodine, other than seaweed, such as kelp. Iodine is important for the functioning of the thyroid gland. The leaves used as a poultice are applied for relief from enlarged prostate gland. The chlorophyll-rich leaves are chewed to absorb breath odors. Dr. Robert Willner in ‘The Cancer Solution’ states that chlorophyll is an effective anti-cancer substance, with antioxidant action, helping to neutralize free radicals from chemicals, pesticides, cigarette smoke, diesel emissions and many other environmental mutagens.

Conclusion of Hadees

1. Cress has healings for all diseases; fumigate the houses with its seeds.