Ibn al-Qayyim cited a hadith: "whoever is offered a fragrant plant should not refuse it, for it is light to carry and pleasant in scent" – hadith of Muslim.
Basil is effective against inflammation; it can be used fresh or dried and crushed and placed on moist lesions, or made into a poultice with olive oil, lemon, chamomile, or even rosemary for whitlows and similar ailments. It can also be mixed with chamomile.
In addition, basil stops biliary diarrhea and checks hot, moist vapor, and when inhaled it strongly reaches the heart and helps prevent contamination by epidemic disease.
Rayhan in the Qur'an and the Sunnah
The word rayhan comes from the root of mercy and breath (rawh, rih, the wind, the scent): it refers to any plant whose fragrance is breathed in, and among the Arabs, basil was the foremost of them. It appears twice in the Qur'an: in the description of the earth's blessings, "there are fruits, palm trees with sheathed clusters, grain in its husks, and rayhan" (55:11-12), and in the description of the death of the one brought near, "then rest, rayhan, and a garden of delights" (56:89), where the commentators see the fragrance of Paradise welcoming the soul. The hadith that Ibn al-Qayyim cites, and that the professor repeats: "Whoever is offered rayhan should not refuse it, for it is light to carry and good in scent" (Muslim 2253). Another version says "a fragrance." The Prophet ﷺ never refused a fragrance, and he wore one; offering a sprig of basil was a gesture of hospitality.
The same word recurs in the hadith of the four fruits: "The hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like the rayhana: its scent is good but its taste is bitter" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Basil appears there as the opposite of the citron: good outside, bitter inside. This says nothing against the plant; it says that a pleasant scent is not enough, and it is a beautiful lesson to take in along with it. See our guide to citron.
Ibn al-Qayyim's uses, and how to apply them today
| Use | What Ibn al-Qayyim says | How today |
|---|---|---|
| The heart, the spirit | "If one smells it, it strengthens the heart"; it brings joy, drives away melancholy | A pot on the windowsill, a sprig crushed between the fingers, a few leaves in hot water to breathe in; the calming scent of basil is the use found in the hadith |
| Inflamed skin | Fresh or dried and crushed onto moist lesions; it tightens, dries, and soothes | A poultice of fresh crushed leaves, or of powder mixed with a little olive oil, on an early boil, a bite, or a small inflammation, 20 minutes, twice a day; with chamomile or rosemary as the professor suggests |
| The stomach | "Stops bilious diarrhea, halts the hot and humid vapor" | An infusion of 5 to 6 fresh leaves after a meal: digestive, helpful for bloating and mild nausea |
| Epidemics | "Prevents contamination by epidemic disease" when breathed in | A belief of his time (miasmas); what remains true is the antimicrobial action of its oils on surfaces and in a room's air |
| The table | A light condiment | Fresh, added at the end of cooking: that is when it gives the most, in flavor and in active compounds |
What the science says
- A 2024 review gathers the demonstrated properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum): antibacterial and antifungal through its essential oil (linalool, estragole, eugenol), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, with data mostly from laboratory and animal studies (Molecules, 2024).
- Basil essential oil inhibits common bacteria and yeasts, including Staphylococcus aureus and Candida, which aligns with its use on small skin inflammations (J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2017).
- In rats, basil leaf extract reduced inflammation and modulated immunity, with an effect comparable to dexamethasone at the doses tested (BMC Complement Altern Med, 2019).
- A safety review notes that basil contains alkenylbenzenes (estragole, methyleugenol), potentially toxic at high doses and over the long term, with no risk at dietary amounts (Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol, 2018).
There is no human clinical trial on common basil (its Indian cousin, tulsi, has more). We therefore stick to what it is: a table herb, a fragrance, and a small skin remedy, whose chemistry explains its age-old uses.
How to grow and keep it
Basil is sown or bought potted in spring, likes sun and water without excess, and is cut from the top to branch out; a pot in the kitchen gives all summer long, and the gesture of the hadith, offering a sprig, can be practiced. Dried, it loses most of its fragrance; it is better frozen, chopped in olive oil. Indian holy basil (tulsi, Ocimum sanctum), Thai basil, and purple basil are cousins: the rayhan of the Arabs is common large-leaf basil, the one from the Mediterranean.
Contraindications and precautions
Fresh basil is a safe food. Its essential oil should not be taken by mouth, should not be applied undiluted to the skin, and should be avoided during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in children, because of the estragole content; one does not do a "basil course" of capsules or concentrated infusions over months. On the skin, test on the inside of the elbow; the poultice should not go on an open or infected wound, nor on a boil that is swelling and throbbing, which calls for a doctor. The basil that strengthens the heart does not replace care when sadness takes hold.
Frequently asked questions
Is basil mentioned in the Qur'an?
Under the name rayhan, the fragrant plant: among the blessings of the earth (55:12) and as the welcome of the soul of the one brought near (56:89). The commentators see basil first, and more broadly any fragrant plant.
What does the hadith say about basil?
"Whoever is offered rayhan should not refuse it, for it is light to carry and good in scent" (Muslim). Offering a fragrant plant is a Sunnah of hospitality, and so is accepting it.
Why does basil represent the hypocrite in the hadith of the fruits?
Because it smells good but tastes bitter, like the hypocrite who recites the Qur'an: a beautiful appearance, a bitter heart. It is not a judgment on the plant; it is an image, and the citron, good on both sides, is the model.
What are the benefits of basil?
It comforts through its fragrance, soothes digestion as an infusion, and its oils are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, hence its use as a poultice on a small skin inflammation. At dietary doses it is safe; its essential oil is not.
Can you drink basil tea every day?
A few fresh leaves infused after a meal, yes, without any problem. Concentrated and prolonged courses should be avoided, because of the estragole content, and the essential oil should never be taken by mouth.
