ورق السدر

Sidr Leaves (Lote Tree)

Herb & Spice Skin & Hair Hygiene & Prevention

Crushed leaves of the lote tree mixed into water, historically used for ritual washing (ghusl) and noted for cleansing effects on skin and scalp.

sahih graded

اغْسِلْنَهَا بِمَاءٍ وَسِدْرٍ

“Wash her [the deceased] with water and sidr.” (meaning, not a literal translation)

Sahih al-Bukhari 1253 Sahih

Sidr-water washes are also mentioned in instructions for the major ritual bath (ghusl) after specific conditions, showing this preparation had a role beyond the funeral-washing context this particular hadith describes — a recurring cleansing agent across several ritual and hygiene contexts in the tradition.

Ibn al-Qayyim's Commentary

Ibn al-Qayyim notes sidr's cleansing, mildly astringent quality, useful for oily or irritated skin and scalp conditions, and its pleasant residual scent. He groups it functionally with henna and myrtle as part of the plant-based washing tradition, each serving a somewhat different but overlapping cleansing and grooming purpose.

What Modern Research Notes

Sidr (Ziziphus/lote tree) leaf extract has some modern cosmetic use and limited research interest for skin-cleansing and antioxidant properties, though it remains far less studied in clinical literature than more commonly researched entries like black seed or ginger.

Caution

Patch-test before wider topical use; can dry sensitive skin with repeated use.