Ibn Majah

1؎: «كَمْأَةُ» is a plural; its singular is «كمئٌ». Ibn Athir has said about it that it is a well-known thing, but in Urdu it is translated as "khumbi" (mushroom), «ککرمتا». The author of Feroz-ul-Lughat writes: "It is a type of white plant that often grows by itself during the rainy season, and it is eaten after being fried. It is called 'snake's umbrella'; plural: khumbiyan, khumbiyon (1121)." In Misbah-ul-Lughat, the translation of «كمئٌ» is: "snake's umbrella," and it is called «شحم الأرض»; plural: «أكمؤٌ» and «كَمْأَةُ» (750-751). In Lisan al-Arab, the definition of « كمء» is as follows: "It is a plant that bursts through the earth and emerges just as «فُطر», i.e., a plant that grows from the earth." And further, it is said: "It is also said that «كمء» is a dusty and reddish-black thing and a white «فَقْعَه»." After this, the same hadith is mentioned. And the plant called «فُطر» is also called 'mushroom.' See: Qamus al-Ghiza wa al-Tadawi bil-Nabat by Ahmad Qudamah, page 489.

The «كمء» mentioned in the hadith refers to the fruit that grows underground in the shape of a potato and in the same way, and in Saudi Arabia it is called «فَقْعَه». It grows after rain in winter; the people of the desert are familiar with its places of growth and they extract it from the earth and bring it. It is also sold in the market at a high price, reaching up to three hundred riyals per kilo. It is potato-shaped, and its taste when cooked is just like meat, so if it is called the «مَن» that grows underground, it would not be inappropriate. In the hadith, it is counted among the «مَن», and its extract is mentioned as a treatment for the eye, and it is mentioned alongside the 'ajwah' date. The correct view is that «کمئَہ» refers to the well-known fruit in Saudi Arabia called «فَقْعَه», which is potato-shaped and grows underground in the same way.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar has defined it in Fath al-Bari as follows: «کمئہ» is a plant that has neither stem nor leaves, and it is found without being sown in the earth, and it is found abundantly in Arab regions and also in Egypt and Syria. According to the detailed explanation given by Hafiz Ibn Hajar, it is the same «فَقْعَه» whose explanation has passed above. (See: Fath al-Bari, Hadith No. 5708)

Hakim Muzaffar Husain Awan has defined khumbi as follows: Urdu: khumb, Hindi: kham, Sindhi: khambhi, English: mushroom. It is a wild plant without stem and leaves that grows after rain in the summer season. It contains more earthy essence and less watery essence, but when it dries, its moisture disappears, and with only the earthiness remaining, its density increases... It is astringent and causes flatulence, and produces phlegm and black bile; that is why it is harmful in diseases of black bile and phlegm... The main characteristic of khumbi is that it is very delicious, so people cook and eat it. (Kitab al-Mufradat, page 386)

Ahmad Qudamah, under the word «كَمْأَةُ», has mentioned details that pertain to the aforementioned wild underground fruit similar to a potato. The author has also mentioned medical benefits related to the treatment of the eye, and in light of modern research, has detailed the substances found within it. At the end, he writes that among all wild plants that grow in the earth, it is the most effective in increasing sexual potency. It contains, along with carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, a quantity of nitrogen as well; thus, in its composition, it is similar to meat, and after cooking, its taste is like that of goat kidney. (Qamus al-Ghiza: 602-604) Also see: al-Mu'jam al-Wasit: entry al-Kama'.

«ککرمتا», which is also called 'snake's umbrella' and is known as khumbi, as detailed above, is another wild small plant that grows after rain in the summer season in the humid regions of the subcontinent, especially in areas where 'sarkanda' (also called sintha, narsil, narkal, and naye) grows, and it grows spontaneously on the ground. It is not related to the khumbi mentioned in the hadith «واللہ اعلم».

2؎: The word for the treatment of insanity and madness with 'ajwah' dates is not correct in the hadith; in the authentic hadith, the treatment for poison is mentioned. (See: Hadith No. 3455).