Miswak

CHAPTER TWENTY

SUNNAH OF MISWAK

O Allah (The Exalted) bless our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the family of our master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) until there remains not a single drop of blessings.

Usage of Miswak

The use of Miswak is a means of purifying the mouth and is pleasing to Allah (The Exalted). i

Sunnah of All The Prophet’s (upon them all be peace)

The Miswak is a stick by which a person cleans the mouth. This is a great Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). It is also a Sunnah of all the Messengers of Allah (upon them all be peace), for they used the Miswak. ii

Abu Ayyub Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that four things are the Sunnahs of all the prophets (upon them all be peace) 1) Circumcision, 2) To apply fragrance (Itr), 3) To use Miswak, 4) Marriage. iii

Seventy Extra Rewards For One Salaah

‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) has reported that, “The prayer before which the Miswak is used is seventy times more excellent than that before which it is not used.” iv Ibn Abbas, ‘Ali and Ata (may Allah be pleased with them all) state that, “But it increases to 99 or 400 times.” v

This reward is based on sincerity, the more sincerity you have the more reward you get, it may be that you can get 70, 99 or even 400. Subhanallah! There are many benefits and one can gain so much reward. If we saw an advert stating the benefits of a product we would buy it. Don’t forget the reward of following a Sunnah at the time of corruption and also reviving a Sunnah, we will not get these benefits elsewhere. May Allah (The Exalted) give us the ability to follow this beautiful Sunnah, Ameen.

Many Benefits

Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Make Miswak a must do not be headless as there are twenty four benefits in Miswak, the greatest benefit is that Allah (The Exalted, is pleased, there is increase in wealth, it freshens the breath, it strengthens the gums, it relieves headaches, it relieves toothache and due to the light from the face and teeth the angles shake hands.” vi

The Miswak has benefits for a person in this world and the hereafter. The Miswak saves you from many types of illnesses in the mouth, with the gums and teeth. ‘Ali, Ata and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be please with them all) state that Miswak strengthens a person’s memory, cures headaches, relieves the veins in the head, it gets rid of phlegm, strengthens the eye sight, keeps the liver healthy and helps digest food, increases intelligence, helps increase in family, lineage stays healthy in an old age, strengthens the stomach, purifies the heart, when exiting the Mosque the angles walk behind the person, the Prophets’ make supplication of forgiveness for the person, the Shaytan is displeased, the difficulties of death become easy and one remembers the Shahadah, when the angel of death comes to take the soul he will come as one of your friends and in some narrations it states he comes in the form when he takes the soul of a Prophet, you will get the book of deeds in the right hand, cross the bridge of Pul-Sirat with the speed of lightening, peace in the grave, if a person forgets to use the Miswak who has a habit will still be rewarded, and the doors of paradise are opened for that person. vii

‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “The Miswak increases the memory and rids phlegm.” viii

The doctors say that the reasons for spots in the mouth are due to heat and acid from the liver and bacteria that is created in the mouth. One should use a Miswak as the saliva that is created from using the Miswak rids the illnesses. 2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

On Awakening

‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Never woke from sleeping at any time of the day or night without cleaning his teeth with a Miswak before performing ablution.” ix

To perform Miswak after sleeping when one awakes is a Sunnah. Whilst asleep the bad odours from the stomach comes towards the mouth which is why the mouth smells. With the blessings of this Sunnah the mouth will be cleansed.

On Entering The House

When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), intended to recite the Qur’an or sleep, he would use a Miswak. He did the same when entering the house. ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that, “The first thing that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) did on entering the house, was Miswak.” x

Part of Ablution

Hassan bin ‘Atiyya (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, “Ablution is part of faith and using a Miswak is part of ablution.” xi

The Emphasis

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), said that, “If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Miswak for every prayer.” xii

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has concern for us, he did not want to place any type of burden on us, however, unfortunately we have turned our backs on the Qur’an and the Sunnah. What answer will we give to Allah (The Exalted) on the Day of Judgment? Allahu Akbar!

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, “I have told you repeatedly to (use) Miswak (the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), emphasised on the use of the Miswak).” xiii

Importance of Miswak

Allama Sha’rani (may Allah have Mercy upon him) states that, ‘Once Abu Bakr Shibli (d.334 A.H.) (may Allah have Mercy upon him) was in need of a Miswak at the time of wudhu, he looked for one but could not find one. He spent a Dinar1 and bought one and used it, people said, ‘You have over spent, can you buy a Miswak this expensive?’ Abu Bakr Shibli (may Allah have Mercy upon him) replied, ‘This world and all its contents in front of Allah (The Exalted) is not even compared to a mosquito, what answer will I give on the Day of Judgement when Allah (The Exalted) asks me, “Why did you leave the Sunnah of my beloved? The wealth that I gave you which (in front of me) is not equivalent to a mosquito, you did not spend it for this Sunnah?”” xiv Allahu Akbar! What more can be said about the importance of the Miswak.

1 An Arab currency.

Miswak a Great Sunnah

‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that, “He passed away in my house, on my day, between my chest and throat. And at death Allah (The Exalted) joined my saliva to his. For when my brother ‘Abd al-Rahman entered carrying a Miswak in his hand, he (the Prophet) began to look at it, and I knew that it pleased him, so I said; “Shall I bring it to you?” Yes, he nodded, so I handed it to him. He put it into his mouth, but it was too hard for him. “Shall I soften it for you?” I asked. Yes, he nodded, so I made it soft. And by him there lay a leather vessel containing water into which he started dipping his hand, saying, “No deity is there except Allah! (The Exalted) truly death has agonies!” then he lifted up his hand and said, “The Highest Companion! The Highest Companion!” and I said, “So by Allah! (The Exalted) he will not prefer us.”” xv ‘Inna Lil-La-hi Wa-inna Ilay-hi Ra-Jioon.’

Even on the death bed the Miswak was a beloved Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), because it pleases Allah (The Exalted). Let us grasp hold fast to this Sunnah, we brush our teeth anyway, why not use the Miswak too as you can carry the Miswak with you as there is no need for paste, as the Miswak comes from a tree which has natural benefits and you can use it whenever you want, after eating, before entering the house, etc. 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

Cure For Illness

‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that, “There is a cure for every illness in Miswak besides death.” xvi

Allama Amjad ‘Ali writes in Bahar-e-Shariat that, “The scholars state whosoever has a habit of using the Miswak, then at the time of death they will (be blessed with the) reciting of the Shahadah and one who takes drugs will not (Allah forbid). xvii

Disadvantage of Toothbrushes

According to researcher, 80% of illnesses of intestine and liver disease come from bad health. In general, those who do not keep their teeth clean, bacteria will create more diseases in their body. Remember that the toothbrush is not a substitute of a Miswak as the researches have stated. When the toothbrush is used once, a bed of bacteria sits at the bottom of the brush, even after washing the brush the bacteria will increase, with the brush the natural brightness of the teeth is lost, by using brush gaps are created between the gums and teeth. When gaps are created bits of food get stuck and bacteria grows, besides many illnesses in the eyes can be created, weakness in eyes as well as one can lose their eye sight.

How to hold the Miswak

According to ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) hold the Miswak in the right hand so that the small finger is below the Miswak and the thumb is below the tip and the other fingers are on top of the Miswak.xviii Do not hold it in the fist as there is a chance of illness. xix

Shaykh Ahmad Raza Khan writes; “To keep the teeth healthy, a deed has been practised by the scholars, that is in the first cycle of the Witr prayer recites Surah Nasr2, in the second Surah Lahab3 and in the third Surah Ikhlas4.” xx

2 Surah No: 109.

3 Surah No: 110

4 Surah No: 111

Manners of Miswak

1. The Miswak should not be too hard nor too soft. xxi

2. It is from trees such as Zaytoon, Peelu or Neem and not from a fragrant tree. xxii

3. Rub the Miswak on the gums at least three times and dip it in water each time. xxiii

4. If the finger is to be used instead of the Miswak, then the upper and lower jaws on the right side are cleaned with the thumb and the left side is cleaned similarly with the index finger. xxiv

5. Put the Miswak upright when not in use. xxv

6. There is a chance of becoming insane if placed on the floor.xxvi

7. The Miswak should be no thicker than the little finger and longer than the hand span as the devil sits on the end if longer. xxvii It is not a problem if less than a hand span but not too short that it is difficult to use.

8. Imam Shafi said, ‘cleansing the teeth increases wisdom’.xxviii

9. Use the right hand to perform the Miswak. xxix

10. Clean at least three times. xxx

11. Do not perform the Miswak in a up/down motion but use it from right to left as there is a chance of damaging the gums. xxxi

12. It is disliked using the Miswak in the toilet. xxxii

13. Do not use it whilst lying down as there is a chance of bad temper.xxxiii

14. To perform Miswak in wudhu is an emphasized Sunnah (Sunnat-e-Muakeda).xxxiv

15. Miswak is Sunnah for ablution and not for Salaah. xxxv

16. Do not throw away the Miswak or the bristles away but bury them. xxxvi

4 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

17. Use the Miswak from one end and not both. xxxvii

18. Women can also use the Miswak. xxxviii

19. One who uses the Miswak gets five rewards for each tooth.xxxix

20. The companions would keep the Miswak on their ears even at the time of journey.

21. Cut the bristles (tip) of the Miswak every 1-2 days and start fresh by biting to make it soft.

22. It is permissible to use Miswak whilst fasting. However, it is not permissible to use a flavoured Miswak nor is it permissible to use toothpaste, when the taste enters the throat breaking the fast and it is wajib (necessary) to be made up. However, if it does not go down the throat it is Makrooh (disliked), but one should abstain if there is no need to do so. xl

23. It is Sunnah to use a Miswak on the day of Jumu’ah.xli

24. According to a hadith, the use of Miswak will gain a person the reward equivalent to the number of new Muslims that revert until the day of judgement.xlii

25. To use the Miswak after eating, one will gain the reward of freeing two slaves. xliii

Other times when the usage of Miswak is Sunnah

1. For the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.

2. For the recitation of Hadith.

3. When the mouth emits bad odour.

4. For teaching or learning the virtues of Islam.

5. For making remembrance of Allah (The Exalted).

6. Before intercourse.

7. After entering one’s home.

8. Before entering any good gathering.

9. When experiencing pangs of hunger or thirst.

10. After the time of Suhoor.5

11. Before meals.

12. Before and after a journey.

13. Before and after sleeping.

5 After eating when intending to keep a fast.

May Allah (The Exalted) give us the ability to practise this beautiful Sunnah with sincerity, Ameen. 5 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk

i Bukhari

ii Tirmidhi and Tabarani.

iii Tirmidhi

iv Mishkat & Baihaqi

v Maraqil Falaah Sharh Nurul Idah

vi Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 903 with reference to Qushayri

vii Footnote of Tahawi and Maraqil Falaah Sharh Nurul Idah

viii Maraqil Falaah Sharh Nurul Idah

ix Muslim, Tahrah. Abu Dawood, Tahrah. Jam’i-ul-Hadith, Vol: 1, p. 285

x Muslim

xi Tirmidhi. Sharah Sunnah. Jam’i-ul-Hadith, Vol:1, p. 292. Author of Ibn Abi Shayba

xii Bukhari, Tahrah. Musli, Taharah.

xiii Bukhari

xiv Lawaqihul Anwar

xv Bukhari, Riqaq

xvi Delmi

xvii Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 904/5

xviii Raddul Mohtar

xix Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 908

xx Fatawa-e-Razwiyya / Nizam-e-Shariat

xxi Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 908

xxii ibid

xxiii ibid

xxiv ibid

xxv ibid

xxvi Raddul Mohtar

xxvii Bahrur Raiq & Bahar-e-Shariah

xxviii Ihya by Al-Ghazali

xxix Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 908

xxx Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 908

xxxi ibid

xxxii ibid

xxxiii Maraqil Falaah

xxxiv Abu Dawud, Durre Mukhtar. Bahar-e-Shariah; Vol: 4; with reference to Raddul Mohtar

xxxv Jam’i-ul-Hadith, Vol: 1, p. 293. Fatawa-e-Razwiyya, Vol: 1, p. 619

xxxvi Faizane Sunnat, Sunnats of Miswak, p. 908

xxxvii ibid

xxxviii ibid

xxxix Tazkiratul Waizeen

xl Fatawa-e-Barkatiya, p. 314

xli Musnad Imam Ahmad

xlii Tazkiratul Waizeen

xliii Tazkiratul Waizeen.