Khumbi Mann Mushroom

By Dr. M. Liaq Ali Khan

It is a self growing Fungus, wildly grows during the rainy season. There are several varieties of this plant, but for the eating purpose only Agaricus campesteris is being used, while other varieties like Psalliota campesteris is not for eating purpose, because all most all species of this plant are toxic in nature. Morphologically the plants are of two types, one which has an umbrella on its shaft but other appears like small balls. The latter is the only variety to eat.

Hazrat Sayeed Bin Zaid narrates that Rasool Allah (SAW) said, “Khumbi is from Mann, its water is a cure for eyes”

The same narration is stated too by Jabir (RA), while Abu Naim narrated the same from Hazrat Aisha and Abdullah Bin Abbas.

Hazrat Abi Sayeed narrates that Rasool Allah (SAW) said, “Khumbi is a part of Mann, Mann actually is from paradise, its water is a cure for eyes.”

Hazrat Sayeed Bin Zaid narrates that Nabi-e-Akram (SAW) said, “Kumbi is from that Mann, which was sent to Bani Israel by Allah Taala. Its water is a cure for the eyes.”

Hazrat Suhaib narrates that Rasool Allah (SAW) said, “Kumbi is here for your benefit, it is from Mann, its water is a cure for the eyes.”

Hazrat Abu Hurrairah narrates that one day Ashab of Nabie-Akram (SAW) said that Khumbi was the small pox of the land. Consequently Nabi-e-Akram (SAW) said that Khumbi was from Mann and the water of khumbi was the cure for the ailments of the eyes, while the Ajwa Dates were from Paradise and an antidote for poisons.

Abu Hurrairah states that after this, I took 3/5/7 khumbis, squeezed those and collected the extracted water in a bottle. This water was applied in the eyes of my servant who was suffering from eye trouble and she got cured with that water.

The scholars of Hadith laid down the following conditions and possibilities for the use of Khumbi.

i) The water extracted from Khumbi is itself a drug, it should be used in the same form.

ii) It should not be mixed with other drugs.

iii) According to Allama Al-Ghafqui the Khumbi water fortifies the effect of other drugs. Example: if it is mixed during the grinding process of surma, this surma strengthens the eye lashes, corrects the refraction defects and sight weakness and relieves any type of inflammation of the eyes.

Chemical composition - According to British Research Council for food, the Khumbi contains the following components:

Proteins, Carbohydrates, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Ferrous, Cobalt, Phosphorus, Sulphur and Chlorine.

Other scholars state that it contains 90% water, 30% Proteins, 5% Carbohydrate and 1% Minerals and vitamins. The active principle of Khumbi is Agaric Fungi Acid. It contains less Sodium and more potassium, hence, can be used by the Hypertensive safely.

The white variety is ideal to eat, while black and red coloured are toxic in nature. Abu Sahal Masihi, the teacher of Sheikh Bu Ali Sina, states it is a cure for almost all diseases of the eye. If the balls of Khumbi are dried and ground in the form of powder, it is effective in Diarrhoea. It lessens the temperature of the body and reduces the production of Phlegm. It is also used for weight gain. Locally, if it is applied on protruded umbilicus of small children with saresham mahi and vinegar, the umbilicus becomes retracted. Its local application is also effective in Hernia. It is a Haematinic too. Its paste is a good healing agent for wounds.

Now-a-days, Mushrooms have become popular food in the society. Europeans are very much fond of the dishes prepared from mushrooms, but it is worthwhile to mention here that Nabi-e-Akram (SAW) told us its advantages and directed us to use it as food and drug hundreds years ago. But unfortunately, it is least used by Muslims in their diet in India. Mushrooms belong to the same family of fungi, from which several Antibiotics have been invented like penicillin, Chloromycetin etc. Modern research has also derived some Antibacterials from mushrooms. These are under trial and possibilities might not be ruled out of their therapeutic place in medical science. Trials have proved that the mushroom water has a potential to kill the bacteria. It is given in Typhoid Typhus and other Fevers with honey and shows very good effects. It is a very good Haemostatic, if applied on the haemorrhagic site of leech bite.

The author is Director, Shah Faisal Institute of Hadith and Medical Science, Kasganj (UP), 207123-05744-42456.)