❖ 9 Essential Islamic Rulings on Miswāk in Daily Life ❖
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 393
What is the prescribed size of a Miswāk?
Is it permissible to use someone else's Miswāk?
And is it allowed to use the Miswāk while fasting?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
There is no fixed or defined length of Miswāk in Sharīʿah.
➤ No explicit textual evidence or valid analogy sets a specific size.
➤ Some suggest a span of a hand or finger’s width, but no Sharʿi proof exists for that.
➤ Any wood that effectively cleans the teeth and reaches all parts of the mouth is permissible.
➤ The Prophet ﷺ would even use the Miswāk on his tongue, making the sound: "aʿ, aʿ".
Ḥadīth Evidence:
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswāk at every prayer.”
(Aḥmad 6/41, Abū Dāwūd 1/11, Tirmidhī 1/9 – Authentic isnād)
➤ Any kind of stick is permissible for Miswāk,
but the Pilu (Arāk) tree is most recommended.
➤ ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه used to bring Pilu sticks for the Prophet ﷺ.
Other Narrations:
➤ The Prophet ﷺ was sent to both men and women,
so Miswāk is Sunnah for women too.
➤ The view that women may substitute Miswāk with chewing gum is baseless.
References:
➤ If permission is granted, it is permissible to use someone else's Miswāk, whether male or female.
Ḥadīth:
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
"The Prophet ﷺ would give me his Miswāk; I would use it, wash it, and return it to him."
(Abū Dāwūd 1/13, al-Mishkāt 1/45)
➤ In a dream narration:
The Prophet ﷺ gave the Miswāk first to a younger man, then it was said to give it to the elder, so he changed it.
(al-Bukhārī 1/38, Muslim 2/244)
➤ It is permissible to use Miswāk both in the morning and evening during fasting.
➤ Some prohibit its use in the latter part of the day, citing the ḥadīth:
"The smell of the fasting person’s mouth is more beloved to Allah than musk."
However, this is not a valid restriction.
Evidence for Permissibility:
◈ All relevant aḥādīth are unrestricted (muṭlaq) — restricting them requires strong proof.
◈ Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه said:
“Use the Miswāk morning and evening. Allah does not command bad odour.”
(Talkhīṣ, pg. 113; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl 1/106)
◈ ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah رضي الله عنه:
“I saw the Prophet ﷺ using Miswāk many times while fasting.”
(al-Bukhārī 1/259; Talkhīṣ 1/62)
Most ḥadīths that suggest finger-use as a substitute are weak (ḍaʿīf).
Examples:
Scholarly Views:
Conclusion:
➤ All narrations are weak.
➤ Using the finger as Miswāk is not Sunnah.
➤ If wood is unavailable, it is temporarily allowed, but should not become a habit.
(Tamām al-Minnah, p. 90)
➤ Obedience to the Prophet ﷺ, and a cause of success in this life and the next.
Related Narrations (mostly weak):
“Ten characteristics in Miswāk…” (Dāraquṭnī 1/85) — weak narrator: Muʿallā ibn Maymūn.
“24 characteristics in Miswāk…” (Talkhīṣ 1/71) — unsourced.
Miswāk removes old age, sharpens vision, and cures all diseases except death.
Miswāk has 70 benefits, just as opium has 70 harms.
◈ Use horizontally on the teeth.
◈ Use vertically on the tongue.
(al-Bukhārī 1/38, Muslim 1/128, Aḥmad)
Holding Technique:
➤ Place little finger underneath,
thumb under the end,
and other fingers on top.
(Radd al-Muḥtār 1/78) — attribution to Ibn Masʿūd is unverified.
The Prophet ﷺ used Miswāk frequently, especially at these times:
✔ Before Wuḍūʾ and Ṣalāh
✔ Upon entering the house
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1/127)
✔ When waking up for Tahajjud
✔ Before sleeping
✔ After waking at night
✔ Before every prayer
Supporting Narrations (Varied Strength):
All authentic and supplementary narrations clearly indicate that the Prophet ﷺ regularly used the Miswāk, especially at specific times, demonstrating its strong Sunnah status.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
① No fixed size – any effective piece of wood is valid.
② Best types: Pilu (Arāk), Olive, Pistachio.
③ Sunnah for both men and women.
④ Permissible to share with permission.
⑤ Allowed while fasting, any time of day.
⑥ Using finger is not Sunnah – only a last resort.
⑦ Miswāk has spiritual and physical benefits.
⑧ Proper method: horizontal on teeth, vertical on tongue.
⑨ Best times: before wudūʾ, prayer, sleep, entering home, waking at night.
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 393
✔ Question:
What is the prescribed size of a Miswāk?
Is it permissible to use someone else's Miswāk?
And is it allowed to use the Miswāk while fasting?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
❶ Sharʿi Limit on the Size of Miswāk
There is no fixed or defined length of Miswāk in Sharīʿah.
➤ No explicit textual evidence or valid analogy sets a specific size.
➤ Some suggest a span of a hand or finger’s width, but no Sharʿi proof exists for that.
➤ Any wood that effectively cleans the teeth and reaches all parts of the mouth is permissible.
➤ The Prophet ﷺ would even use the Miswāk on his tongue, making the sound: "aʿ, aʿ".
Ḥadīth Evidence:
“If I had not feared hardship for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswāk at every prayer.”
(Aḥmad 6/41, Abū Dāwūd 1/11, Tirmidhī 1/9 – Authentic isnād)
❷ Type of Miswāk
➤ Any kind of stick is permissible for Miswāk,
but the Pilu (Arāk) tree is most recommended.
➤ ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه used to bring Pilu sticks for the Prophet ﷺ.
Other Narrations:
- "The Miswāk from the olive tree is excellent... It is the Miswāk of myself and the Prophets before me."
(Ṭabarānī, Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid 2/100) - Abū Zayd al-Ghāfiqī said:
There are three types of Miswāk:
Arāk, ʿAnam (Olive), and Baṭm (Pistachio tree).
❸ Miswāk is Sunnah for Women Also
➤ The Prophet ﷺ was sent to both men and women,
so Miswāk is Sunnah for women too.
➤ The view that women may substitute Miswāk with chewing gum is baseless.
References:
- al-Hidāyah (1/221)
- Radd al-Muḥtār (1/78)
❹ Using Someone Else’s Miswāk
➤ If permission is granted, it is permissible to use someone else's Miswāk, whether male or female.
Ḥadīth:
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:
"The Prophet ﷺ would give me his Miswāk; I would use it, wash it, and return it to him."
(Abū Dāwūd 1/13, al-Mishkāt 1/45)
➤ In a dream narration:
The Prophet ﷺ gave the Miswāk first to a younger man, then it was said to give it to the elder, so he changed it.
(al-Bukhārī 1/38, Muslim 2/244)
❺ Using Miswāk While Fasting
➤ It is permissible to use Miswāk both in the morning and evening during fasting.
➤ Some prohibit its use in the latter part of the day, citing the ḥadīth:
"The smell of the fasting person’s mouth is more beloved to Allah than musk."
However, this is not a valid restriction.
Evidence for Permissibility:
◈ All relevant aḥādīth are unrestricted (muṭlaq) — restricting them requires strong proof.
◈ Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه said:
“Use the Miswāk morning and evening. Allah does not command bad odour.”
(Talkhīṣ, pg. 113; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl 1/106)
◈ ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah رضي الله عنه:
“I saw the Prophet ﷺ using Miswāk many times while fasting.”
(al-Bukhārī 1/259; Talkhīṣ 1/62)
❻ Ruling on Using the Finger as Miswāk
Most ḥadīths that suggest finger-use as a substitute are weak (ḍaʿīf).
Examples:
- “Place finger in mouth for Miswāk” — weak narration.
- “Fingers serve as Miswāk” — weak sources: Bayhaqī, Dāraquṭnī.
- ʿAlī رضي الله عنه — Abā Maṭar (narrator) is unknown.
- Kuthayr ibn ʿAbdullāh — severely weak.
Scholarly Views:
- Ibn Qudāmah: Finger is not a substitute for Miswāk.
- Fiqh al-Sunnah: Mentioned in case of toothlessness, but hadith is weak.
- al-Majmūʿ: Soft finger is not equal to Miswāk.
- Radd al-Muḥtār: Some say the Sunnah is fulfilled, but sources are weak.
Conclusion:
➤ All narrations are weak.
➤ Using the finger as Miswāk is not Sunnah.
➤ If wood is unavailable, it is temporarily allowed, but should not become a habit.
(Tamām al-Minnah, p. 90)
❼ Virtues and Benefits of Miswāk
➤ Obedience to the Prophet ﷺ, and a cause of success in this life and the next.
Related Narrations (mostly weak):
- ʿAlī رضي الله عنه: “Your mouths are the path for the Qurʾān, clean them with Miswāk”
(Ibn Mājah, Abū Nuʿaym) - Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
“Ten characteristics in Miswāk…” (Dāraquṭnī 1/85) — weak narrator: Muʿallā ibn Maymūn.
- Abū al-Dardāʾ:
“24 characteristics in Miswāk…” (Talkhīṣ 1/71) — unsourced.
- Radd al-Muḥtār:
Miswāk removes old age, sharpens vision, and cures all diseases except death.
- al-Mirqāt:
Miswāk has 70 benefits, just as opium has 70 harms.
❽ Proper Method of Using Miswāk
◈ Use horizontally on the teeth.
◈ Use vertically on the tongue.
(al-Bukhārī 1/38, Muslim 1/128, Aḥmad)
Holding Technique:
➤ Place little finger underneath,
thumb under the end,
and other fingers on top.
(Radd al-Muḥtār 1/78) — attribution to Ibn Masʿūd is unverified.
❾ Timing for Using Miswāk
The Prophet ﷺ used Miswāk frequently, especially at these times:
✔ Before Wuḍūʾ and Ṣalāh
✔ Upon entering the house
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1/127)
✔ When waking up for Tahajjud
✔ Before sleeping
✔ After waking at night
✔ Before every prayer
Supporting Narrations (Varied Strength):
- Jābir رضي الله عنه — weak due to Ḥarām ibn ʿUthmān.
- ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr — ḥasan via follow-ups.
- ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه — weak narrator.
- Ibn ʿUmar — kept Miswāk by his bedside.
- Zayd ibn Khālid — used Miswāk before every prayer.
- Maymūnah رضي الله عنها — always kept it close.
- Ibn ʿAbbās — Prophet ﷺ admonished a man for not using Miswāk despite bad breath.
❖ Conclusion
All authentic and supplementary narrations clearly indicate that the Prophet ﷺ regularly used the Miswāk, especially at specific times, demonstrating its strong Sunnah status.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Summary: 9 Sharʿi Rulings Related to Miswāk
① No fixed size – any effective piece of wood is valid.
② Best types: Pilu (Arāk), Olive, Pistachio.
③ Sunnah for both men and women.
④ Permissible to share with permission.
⑤ Allowed while fasting, any time of day.
⑥ Using finger is not Sunnah – only a last resort.
⑦ Miswāk has spiritual and physical benefits.
⑧ Proper method: horizontal on teeth, vertical on tongue.
⑨ Best times: before wudūʾ, prayer, sleep, entering home, waking at night.
