From: Fiqhi Ahkām wa Masā’il – Volume 1, Page 38
Cleaning the teeth and gums using a branch of a tree to remove plaque and eliminate bad odor is one of the qualities of natural disposition (Khisāl al-Fiṭrah).
❖ Hadith:
“Using the miswāk has remained a Sunnah of the Prophets.”
(Ḍaʿīf) – Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī Faḍl al-Tazwīj wa al-Ḥathth ʿAlayh – Ḥadīth 1080
It is reported that the first person to use a miswāk was Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said:
"السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ"
"Miswāk is a purifier for the mouth and pleasing to the Lord."
Al-Muṣannaf li Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/155, Ḥadīth 1787
Agreed upon: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Jumuʿah – Bāb al-Siwāk Yawm al-Jumuʿah) Ḥadīth 887, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ṭahārah – Bāb al-Siwāk) Ḥadīth 252
There are nearly one hundred Ahādīth highlighting the virtue and importance of miswāk, from which it is proven that miswāk is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (strongly emphasized Sunnah) and carries numerous benefits — the greatest being purification of the mouth and the pleasure of Allah.
◈ It is preferable to use a somewhat soft twig — ideally from Pīlū (Salvadora persica), olive, date palm, or any branch that is neither too soft nor so hard that it harms the mouth.
Miswāk can be done at any time.
A fasting person may use miswāk at any point during the day.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ وُضُوءٍ"
"Had I not feared hardship upon my Ummah, I would have ordered them to use miswāk at every wuḍūʾ."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Jumuʿah – Ḥadīth 887)
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ṭahārah – Ḥadīth 252)
This Hadith shows that using miswāk at the time of wuḍūʾ is recommended (mustaḥabb).
There is strong encouragement to use miswāk before both obligatory and voluntary prayers to ensure complete cleanliness and purity before drawing close to Allah ﷻ.
It is highly emphasized to use miswāk upon waking up, whether in the night or day.
Hadith:
"كَانَ النَّبِيُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ"
"When the Prophet ﷺ would wake up at night, he would cleanse his mouth with miswāk."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Wuḍūʾ – Ḥadīth 245)
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ṭahārah – Ḥadīth 255)
One of the distinct qualities of our pure religion is that it encourages practices aligned with natural human disposition. These are termed “Khisāl al-Fiṭrah” because they are innate, divinely implanted, and part of the Sunnah of all Prophets.
Apart from miswāk, the following are also among the characteristics of fiṭrah:
It is obligatory upon every Muslim to remove hair from around the private parts, using a razor or depilatory substance, for hygienic purposes.
The cutting of the foreskin (ghilāf) is called circumcision, a fiṭrah practice and preferably performed during childhood for quicker healing.
Trimming the mustache and keeping it short:
◈ Leads to cleanliness
◈ Distinguishes Muslims from disbelievers
◈ Highlights manliness
Whereas shaving, trimming the beard, or keeping only a few hairs — all these are a clear opposition to the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Poetic Expression:
"يُقْضَى على المرءِ أيامَ محنتِهِ
حتى يَرَى حَسَناً مَا لَيْسَ بالحَسَنِ"
Translation by ʿAllāmah Iqbāl:
"That which was once deemed evil, becomes good with time,
For slavery alters the conscience of nations."
Another poem reads:
"ولا عجب أن النساء ترجلت
ولكن تأنيث الرجال عجيب"
“It is not surprising that women act like men,
But it is shocking when men begin acting like women.”
This too is among the traits of fiṭrah.
Letting nails grow long is akin to animal behavior and is an imitation of ignorant cultures.
Plucking underarm hair is a Sunnah.
It is also permissible to shave or remove it using a depilatory.
Nowadays, many people:
✖ Shave off their beards
✖ Grow long mustaches
✖ Neglect bodily hygiene
✖ Imitate non-Islamic cultures
These individuals are leading themselves and the Ummah astray.
"لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ"
O Allah! Grant the Muslims the ability to rectify their actions and speech.
Bless them with sincerity and adherence to the Sunnah.
Āmīn.
✦ Introduction
Cleaning the teeth and gums using a branch of a tree to remove plaque and eliminate bad odor is one of the qualities of natural disposition (Khisāl al-Fiṭrah).
✦ Miswāk – A Prophetic Practice
❖ Hadith:
“Using the miswāk has remained a Sunnah of the Prophets.”
(Ḍaʿīf) – Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī Faḍl al-Tazwīj wa al-Ḥathth ʿAlayh – Ḥadīth 1080
It is reported that the first person to use a miswāk was Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said:
"السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ"
"Miswāk is a purifier for the mouth and pleasing to the Lord."
Al-Muṣannaf li Ibn Abī Shaybah 1/155, Ḥadīth 1787 Agreed upon: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Jumuʿah – Bāb al-Siwāk Yawm al-Jumuʿah) Ḥadīth 887, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ṭahārah – Bāb al-Siwāk) Ḥadīth 252There are nearly one hundred Ahādīth highlighting the virtue and importance of miswāk, from which it is proven that miswāk is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (strongly emphasized Sunnah) and carries numerous benefits — the greatest being purification of the mouth and the pleasure of Allah.
✦ Types of Miswāk and Preferred Branches
◈ It is preferable to use a somewhat soft twig — ideally from Pīlū (Salvadora persica), olive, date palm, or any branch that is neither too soft nor so hard that it harms the mouth.
✦ Best Times for Miswāk
Miswāk can be done at any time.
A fasting person may use miswāk at any point during the day.
✔ Emphasis at the Time of Wuḍūʾ
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ وُضُوءٍ"
"Had I not feared hardship upon my Ummah, I would have ordered them to use miswāk at every wuḍūʾ."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Jumuʿah – Ḥadīth 887) Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ṭahārah – Ḥadīth 252)This Hadith shows that using miswāk at the time of wuḍūʾ is recommended (mustaḥabb).
✔ Before Obligatory or Voluntary Prayer
There is strong encouragement to use miswāk before both obligatory and voluntary prayers to ensure complete cleanliness and purity before drawing close to Allah ﷻ.
✔ Upon Waking From Sleep
It is highly emphasized to use miswāk upon waking up, whether in the night or day.
Hadith:
"كَانَ النَّبِيُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ"
"When the Prophet ﷺ would wake up at night, he would cleanse his mouth with miswāk."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Wuḍūʾ – Ḥadīth 245) Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ṭahārah – Ḥadīth 255)✦ Method of Using the Miswāk
- Miswāk should preferably be held in the left hand.
(No direct textual evidence provided, though the right hand is often considered superior in general use.) - Begin cleaning from the right side of the mouth and move towards the left, covering both the teeth and gums.
✦ Khisāl al-Fiṭrah – Characteristics of Natural Disposition
One of the distinct qualities of our pure religion is that it encourages practices aligned with natural human disposition. These are termed “Khisāl al-Fiṭrah” because they are innate, divinely implanted, and part of the Sunnah of all Prophets.
Apart from miswāk, the following are also among the characteristics of fiṭrah:
❀ ① Removal of Pubic Hair
It is obligatory upon every Muslim to remove hair from around the private parts, using a razor or depilatory substance, for hygienic purposes.
❀ ② Circumcision (Khatnah)
The cutting of the foreskin (ghilāf) is called circumcision, a fiṭrah practice and preferably performed during childhood for quicker healing.
❀ ③ Trimming the Mustache and Growing the Beard
Trimming the mustache and keeping it short:
◈ Leads to cleanliness
◈ Distinguishes Muslims from disbelievers
◈ Highlights manliness
Whereas shaving, trimming the beard, or keeping only a few hairs — all these are a clear opposition to the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Poetic Expression:
"يُقْضَى على المرءِ أيامَ محنتِهِ
حتى يَرَى حَسَناً مَا لَيْسَ بالحَسَنِ"
Translation by ʿAllāmah Iqbāl:
"That which was once deemed evil, becomes good with time,
For slavery alters the conscience of nations."
Another poem reads:
"ولا عجب أن النساء ترجلت
ولكن تأنيث الرجال عجيب"
“It is not surprising that women act like men,
But it is shocking when men begin acting like women.”
❀ ④ Clipping the Nails
This too is among the traits of fiṭrah.
Letting nails grow long is akin to animal behavior and is an imitation of ignorant cultures.
❀ ⑤ Plucking the Underarm Hair
Plucking underarm hair is a Sunnah.
It is also permissible to shave or remove it using a depilatory.
✦ A Painful Aspect of Cultural Deviation
Nowadays, many people:
✖ Shave off their beards
✖ Grow long mustaches
✖ Neglect bodily hygiene
✖ Imitate non-Islamic cultures
These individuals are leading themselves and the Ummah astray.
"لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ"
✦ Supplication
O Allah! Grant the Muslims the ability to rectify their actions and speech.
Bless them with sincerity and adherence to the Sunnah.
Āmīn.
