Surma Lagane Ki Dua is a short supplication some Muslims recite while applying kohl to the eyes at night. Applying surma, also called kohl or ithmid, was a regular habit of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and he encouraged the ummah to use it for the health of the eyes. Alongside the physical practice, saying a dua while applying surma turns a simple daily habit into a small act of worship.
What follows sets out the Arabic wording connected to this habit, its transliteration, meaning, the correct tarika for applying surma, and surma lagane ke fayde as they appear in hadith rather than as they appear on a product label.
What Is Surma
Surma is a fine black or dark grey powder applied to the inner edge of the eyelids. In Arabic it is called kohl, and the best type mentioned in hadith is ithmid, a mineral based kohl made from antimony stone found in parts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used ithmid regularly, particularly before sleeping. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah said the best of your kohl is ithmid, for it clears the sight and makes the hair of the eyelashes grow. This narration appears in Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan an Nasa’i, and it has been graded sahih by Sheikh Al Albani in As Silsilah As Sahihah.
Because of this hadith, surma is treated as a Sunnah habit among Muslims rather than a purely cosmetic one. Scholars such as Ibn Al Qayyim wrote that kohl protects the health of the eyes, strengthens vision, and cleans the eye of harmful substances, with ithmid being more effective than other kinds of kohl. It carries both a physical benefit for the eyes and a spiritual reward for following the Prophet’s example.
Modern, factory made kohl products sometimes contain added chemical ingredients, so scholars advise choosing pure, natural ithmid where possible rather than every product marketed under the name surma. Anyone with an existing eye condition should also check with a doctor before applying any kohl product, since medical advice and Islamic practice work together rather than against each other on matters of physical health.
Surma Lagane Ki Dua In Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ مَتِّعْنِي بِسَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي
Surma Lagane Ki Dua In English
Allahumma matti’ni bi sam’i wa basari
Surma Lagane Ki Dua In Hindi
अल्लाहुम्मा मत्तिअ्नी बिसम्ई व बसरी
Surma Lagane Ki Dua Ka Tarjuma
हे अल्लाह! मुझे मेरे सुनने और देखने की नमतों से लंबे समय तक लाभ उठाने की तौफीक़ दे।
Surma Lagane Ki Dua Meaning In English
O Allah, let me enjoy the use of my hearing and my sight.
This line asks Allah to keep the senses of hearing and sight healthy and active for as long as a person lives. It is short, easy to remember, and fits naturally into the moment of applying surma to the eyes each night. Someone reading it in English for the first time will notice how brief and direct the request is, which is part of why it has stayed popular across generations of households.
A point of honesty matters here for anyone looking for the exact source. This sentence belongs to a wider collection of morning and evening supplications about general wellbeing, and it specifically mentions sight and hearing together. It is not narrated in hadith as a phrase the Prophet said only at the moment of applying kohl. Many Islamic pages pair it with surma because of its direct link to eyesight, and reciting it while applying kohl is a good and permissible habit. What stays firmly established from hadith is the act of applying ithmid itself, along with this general supplication for the health of the eyes and ears, which a person may say at any point in the day, including while applying surma at night.
Families who teach children this dua often start with just this single line before moving on to longer supplications, since a short and clear sentence is easier for a young child to hold onto than a long passage.
Why Surma Lagane Ki Dua Is Recited
Reading a short line asking Allah for the wellbeing of sight and hearing while applying kohl works as a gentle reminder that eyesight is a gift from Allah, not something a person owns by right. Applying kohl to the eyes was part of the daily routine of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and pairing it with a short supplication keeps the habit tied to remembrance of Allah rather than turning into a purely physical routine.
This also reflects a wider principle in Islam. Ordinary daily actions such as eating, dressing, grooming, or applying kohl carry reward when they are done with the right intention and joined with remembrance of Allah. A person does not need long or complicated words for this. A short heartfelt line said with sincerity is enough.
Surma Lagane Ka Tarika (Method)
The correct tarika of applying surma keeps close to what has been reported from the Sunnah.
Clean The Eyes First
Before touching the surma stick or applicator to the eyes, wash the hands and make sure the eye area is free of dirt, oil, or leftover makeup.
Apply To The Right Eye First
The Sunnah order begins with the right eye, following the general Islamic practice of starting good and beneficial actions from the right side of the body.
Use An Odd Number Of Strokes
Early scholars noted that applying kohl an odd number of times, generally three strokes per eye, is the preferred manner, matching the wider Sunnah pattern of doing beneficial acts in odd counts.
Move To The Left Eye
Once the right eye is complete, the same number of strokes is applied gently to the left eye using a clean applicator.
Apply Before Sleeping
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) most often applied surma at night before sleep, which allowed the kohl to stay on the eyes through the night.
Recite The Dua While Applying
Saying this dua quietly while applying the kohl keeps the heart present during the act and turns a private nightly routine into a moment of remembrance.
When To Read Surma Lagane Ki Dua
The best time to recite this supplication is right before or while applying surma at night, close to bedtime, matching the reported habit of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It can also be said at any other time surma is applied during the day, since nothing in the hadith limits it to a fixed hour. A person can equally recite it silently in the heart or in a soft voice, whichever feels natural.
Surma Lagane Ke Fayde (Benefit)
Protection And Care For The Eyes
Ithmid surma has been described by early scholars, including Ibn Al Qayyim, as beneficial for eye health, helping clear the vision and clean the eye of substances that may irritate it over time.
Following An Established Sunnah
Applying surma the way the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did brings the reward of following his example, since he both used it personally and recommended it to the people around him.
Support For Eyelash Growth
The hadith recorded in Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan an Nasa’i mentions that ithmid supports the growth of the eyelashes along with clearing the eyesight, a detail repeated by several early scholars.
A Simple Act Of Remembrance
Pairing a daily habit like applying surma with a short supplication keeps a small part of the day connected to Allah, adding spiritual weight to something that might otherwise pass by unnoticed.
A Reminder Of Allah’s Blessing
Asking Allah to let a person keep enjoying the use of sight and hearing is a reminder that these senses are a gift rather than a guarantee, and that gratitude for them should be renewed often, not only when they weaken.
Conclusion
Surma Lagane Ki Dua brings together a physical Sunnah, the application of ithmid kohl, with a spiritual habit of asking Allah to preserve the blessing of sight and hearing. The practice rests on authentic hadith regarding the fayde of ithmid, while the accompanying supplication serves as a gentle reminder that these senses belong to Allah’s mercy and care. Applying surma with the correct tarika and reciting this short dua keeps a simple nightly habit connected to faith and gratitude, night after night.
See More Reliable Islamic Duas:
- Ya Muqallibal Qulub Dua
- Ghabrahat Ki Dua
- Khatmul Quran Dua
- Zalzala Ki Dua
- Imtihan Mein Kamyabi Ki Dua
- Sawari Ki Dua
- Dua Abu Darda
- Dua Lahaula Walakuata Illabillah Meaning
- Dua For Good Health
- Pani Peene Ki Dua
- Barkat Ki Dua
- Suhoor Dua
- Tahajjud Ki Dua
? FAQs About Surma Lagane Ki Dua
Is Surma Lagane Ki Dua mentioned word for word in hadith about kohl?
The exact line asking for continued use of hearing and sight comes from a broader collection of Prophetic supplications about wellbeing, while the act of applying ithmid itself is separately confirmed in Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan an Nasa’i.
Can surma be applied during the day instead of at night?
Yes, surma can be applied at any time, though the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) most often applied it at night before sleeping.
Is surma only meant for men?
No, surma benefits both men and women, though local scholars may differ on colour choices for men in certain cultural settings.
Does applying surma break the fast in Ramadan?
Most scholars hold that applying surma to the eyes does not break a fast, since it does not enter the body through the mouth or throat.
How many times should surma be applied to each eye?
Following the Sunnah, an odd number of strokes, generally three, is applied to each eye starting with the right side before moving to the left.
Is it necessary to say a dua while applying surma?
It is not obligatory, but reciting a short supplication while applying kohl is a recommended habit that adds spiritual value to a physical Sunnah act.
Written by: Ahmad Raza
Credentials: Islamic Studies Content Writer
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