❖ Two Virtues of Miswāk in Light of Authentic Ahadith ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 400
Is it preferable to use the right hand when performing Miswāk?
What is the Sharʿi ruling on using the right or left hand for Miswāk?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
In al-Fatāwā (21/108), Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah was asked:
"Is it better to use the right hand or the left for Miswāk? And can someone be objected to if they use the left hand?"
He replied:
➤ It is better to use the left hand.
➤ Imām Aḥmad supported this view, and no opposition is recorded from other leading scholars.
➤ The reason: Miswāk is related to removing harm (إماطة الأذى), like cleaning the nose or performing istinjāʾ.
Islamic rulings distinguish between two types of actions:
In such actions, the right hand is preferred due to its dignity and honor.
Examples:
✔ Wudūʾ and Ghusl
✔ Miswāk
✔ Wearing clothes or shoes
✔ Entering the Masjid or home
✔ Leaving the bathroom
If the act involves honor, use the right hand:
✔ Eating and drinking
✔ Shaking hands
✔ Holding the Qurʾān or books
If the act involves removal of harm, use the left hand:
✔ Istinjāʾ
✔ Blowing the nose
✔ Holding impure items
When asked the same question, he stated:
This issue is one of scholarly difference:
❀ Some scholars say:
Use the right hand, because Miswāk is Sunnah and a form of ʿibādah.
Since the left hand is for removing impurity, it should be avoided.
❀ Others say:
Use the left hand, as Miswāk involves removing dirt from the mouth, which aligns with removal of harm.
❀ Some scholars differentiate based on intention:
➤ If Miswāk is used for cleansing the mouth (e.g., after waking),
→ use left hand.
➤ If used for drawing closer to Allah, especially before acts of worship,
→ use right hand.
Alḥamdulillāh, the matter is broad in scope, and
there is no explicit definitive text restricting either hand.
One may perform Miswāk with either hand, depending on context and intention.
Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها in Sunan Abū Dāwūd (2/217, Ḥadīth 414, Kitāb al-Libās, Bāb al-Intiʿāl):
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ preferred using the right side in all his affairs: for purification, combing, and wearing shoes.”
This ḥadīth is authentic and recorded by al-Bukhārī, Muslim, and Ibn Mājah (1/69, Ḥadīth 401).
It includes Miswāk under purification-related acts.
According to the scholars and commentators:
◈ Imām Nawawī (Sharḥ Muslim 1/132):
A general principle in Sharīʿah is that
acts involving honor (karāmah) like Miswāk, combing, and entering the masjid,
→ should be done using the right side.
Whereas actions involving removal of filth → should be done with the left hand.
◈ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar ﷂ (Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/216):
Cited narrations where the word "siwāk" is explicitly mentioned in connection to right-hand usage.
◈ Radd al-Muḥtār (1/28):
States that holding the Miswāk in the right hand is mustaḥabb (recommended).
It is reported that Imām Mālik preferred using the left hand,
considering Miswāk an act of removal of harm.
Some ḥadīths mention the Prophet ﷺ preferred the right side for combing, wearing shoes, purification, and Miswāk.
It is incorrect to interpret this as “starting from the right side of the mouth” only.
→ This would restrict the general wording of the ḥadīth without textual evidence.
In conclusion, the stronger and more supported view is:
➤ Using the right hand for Miswāk is preferable,
as it is supported by authentic aḥādīth indicating the Prophet ﷺ preferred the right side in acts of purification and honor.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
① Using the right hand for Miswāk is Sunnah, based on authentic hadith.
② Miswāk is a beloved purification act associated with worship, and therefore, the right hand is preferred—though the left is allowed where contextually appropriate.
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 400
✦ Question:
Is it preferable to use the right hand when performing Miswāk?
What is the Sharʿi ruling on using the right or left hand for Miswāk?
✔ Response:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
◈ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah’s Opinion
In al-Fatāwā (21/108), Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah was asked:
"Is it better to use the right hand or the left for Miswāk? And can someone be objected to if they use the left hand?"
He replied:
➤ It is better to use the left hand.
➤ Imām Aḥmad supported this view, and no opposition is recorded from other leading scholars.
➤ The reason: Miswāk is related to removing harm (إماطة الأذى), like cleaning the nose or performing istinjāʾ.
◈ Categories of Actions in Islamic Law
Islamic rulings distinguish between two types of actions:
① Common/Neutral Acts – where both hands can be used
In such actions, the right hand is preferred due to its dignity and honor.
Examples:
✔ Wudūʾ and Ghusl
✔ Miswāk
✔ Wearing clothes or shoes
✔ Entering the Masjid or home
✔ Leaving the bathroom
② Exclusive Acts – involving either hand specifically
If the act involves honor, use the right hand:
✔ Eating and drinking
✔ Shaking hands
✔ Holding the Qurʾān or books
If the act involves removal of harm, use the left hand:
✔ Istinjāʾ
✔ Blowing the nose
✔ Holding impure items
◈ Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn’s View
When asked the same question, he stated:
This issue is one of scholarly difference:
❀ Some scholars say:
Use the right hand, because Miswāk is Sunnah and a form of ʿibādah.
Since the left hand is for removing impurity, it should be avoided.
❀ Others say:
Use the left hand, as Miswāk involves removing dirt from the mouth, which aligns with removal of harm.
❀ Some scholars differentiate based on intention:
➤ If Miswāk is used for cleansing the mouth (e.g., after waking),
→ use left hand.
➤ If used for drawing closer to Allah, especially before acts of worship,
→ use right hand.
◈ Summary Judgment
Alḥamdulillāh, the matter is broad in scope, and
there is no explicit definitive text restricting either hand.
One may perform Miswāk with either hand, depending on context and intention.
✿ Virtue #1 — Preference for the Right in Good Acts
Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها in Sunan Abū Dāwūd (2/217, Ḥadīth 414, Kitāb al-Libās, Bāb al-Intiʿāl):
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ preferred using the right side in all his affairs: for purification, combing, and wearing shoes.”
This ḥadīth is authentic and recorded by al-Bukhārī, Muslim, and Ibn Mājah (1/69, Ḥadīth 401).
It includes Miswāk under purification-related acts.
✿ Virtue #2 — Sunnah and Beloved Act in Worship
According to the scholars and commentators:
◈ Imām Nawawī (Sharḥ Muslim 1/132):
A general principle in Sharīʿah is that
acts involving honor (karāmah) like Miswāk, combing, and entering the masjid,
→ should be done using the right side.
Whereas actions involving removal of filth → should be done with the left hand.
◈ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar ﷂ (Fatḥ al-Bārī 1/216):
Cited narrations where the word "siwāk" is explicitly mentioned in connection to right-hand usage.
◈ Radd al-Muḥtār (1/28):
States that holding the Miswāk in the right hand is mustaḥabb (recommended).
◈ Opinion of Imām Mālik
It is reported that Imām Mālik preferred using the left hand,
considering Miswāk an act of removal of harm.
◈ Clarification Regarding Hadith Wording
Some ḥadīths mention the Prophet ﷺ preferred the right side for combing, wearing shoes, purification, and Miswāk.
It is incorrect to interpret this as “starting from the right side of the mouth” only.
→ This would restrict the general wording of the ḥadīth without textual evidence.
◈ Final Conclusion: Rajḥ (Stronger) Opinion
In conclusion, the stronger and more supported view is:
➤ Using the right hand for Miswāk is preferable,
as it is supported by authentic aḥādīth indicating the Prophet ﷺ preferred the right side in acts of purification and honor.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❀ Summary of the 2 Virtues of Miswāk:
① Using the right hand for Miswāk is Sunnah, based on authentic hadith.
② Miswāk is a beloved purification act associated with worship, and therefore, the right hand is preferred—though the left is allowed where contextually appropriate.
