Abu Dawud

1748. Commentary: «عسل » ‘Ayn’ and ‘Seen’ with a fathah (zabar) on both, in their well-known meaning, refer to honey. However, a certain type of gum is also called «عسل ». In Lisan al-‘Arab it is mentioned: «العرب تسمي صمغ العرقط عسلا لحلاوته» The Arabs also call the gum of the ‘arafṭ’ plant ‘asal’ (honey) because it has sweetness. If this word is pronounced with a kasrah (zer) on the letter ‘ghayn’ (with a dot) and sukoon (jazm) on the ‘seen’, then its meaning is: anything with which a person generally performs ritual bath (ghusl). The commentators take this to mean ‘khitmi’ (mallow plant).