The Saltwort and Cyperus

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ahmad ibn Yazid who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (a.s.), has said, ’Eating saltwort disinfects the mouth.”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Certain persons of our people have narrated from Ja‘far ibn Ibrahim al-Hadramiy from Sa‘d ibn Sa‘d who has said the following: “I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I eat saltwort.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), when washing his hands and mouth (with saltwort) would keep his lips closed. There is a quality in it, which is disliked. It can cause tuberculoses, it takes away the water of the back and weakens the knees.’ I then asked about clay. He (the Imam) said, ‘Eating clay is unlawful like dead bodies, blood and pork except the clay and soil of the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.), in which there is cure for all illnesses, however, do not be excessive, and there is immunity in it against all kinds of fear.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn ‘Umar from his uncle Muhammad ibn ‘Umar from a man who has said the following: “If one washes the outlet of his feces and his mouth after food with cyperus no illness will occur in his mouth and hewill have no fear of gases or hemorrhoid.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from abu al-Khazraj al-Hassan ibn al-Zabarqan al-Ansariy from al-Fadl ibn ‘Uthman from abu ’Aziz al-Muradiy who is maternal uncle of my mother who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Keep cyperus in your teeth; it gives the mouth pleasant smell and increases one’s ability to go to bed with his wife.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain persons of his people from Ibrahim ibn Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad who have said the following: “Al-‘ Abbas ibn Musa took me and commanded to hit my mouth, so my teeth became shaky and I could not chew food. I then saw my father in my dream. There was an old man with him whom I could not recognize. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said to me to offer greeting of peace to him.’ I then asked, ‘Father, who is he?’ He replied, ‘He is abu Shaybah al-Khurasaniy (of companions of abu Ja‘far (a.s.)).’ I offered him greeting of peace and he asked, ‘Why do I see you in this condition?’ I replied, ‘Sinful al-‘Abbas ibn Musa commanded to hit on my mouth and my teeth have become shaky.’ He said, ‘Tie them down with cyperus.’ In the morning I rinsed my teeth with al-Sa‘d and my teeth calmed down.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.