Hadith on the Virtues of Miswak:
Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Miswak purifies the mouth and is a means of earning the pleasure of the Lord."
(Sunan al-Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, Ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih, and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak)
Authentication:
This hadith is authentic (Sahih) and has been reported by several scholars:
- Musnad Ahmad (2/47, 26, 124, 238)
- Sunan al-Nasa’i (1/10)
- Ibn Hibban (143)
- Ibn Khuzaymah (135)
- Al-Darimi (290)
- Al-Bayhaqi (1/34)
- Sahih al-Bukhari (4/87)
Miswak and the Practice of the Prophet ﷺ
In another narration, Muslim recorded from Al-Miqdam bin Shuraih, from his father, from Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها):
"Whenever the Prophet ﷺ entered his house, he would begin by using the Miswak."
(Sahih Muslim: 253)
The Emphasis on Using Miswak Before Wudu
A group of Muhaddithin (Hadith scholars) reported from Imam Malik, from Ibn Shihab, from Humaid bin Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"If it were not for the hardship upon my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswak with every Wudu."
(Muwatta Imam Malik: 117 (Mawquf), Musnad Ahmad: 2/460, 517 (Marfu'), Ibn Khuzaymah: 140, Al-Bayhaqi: 1/35, Sahih al-Bukhari: 4/187)
Key Lessons from These Ahadith:
➊ Miswak is a Sunnah that Cleanses the Mouth and Pleases Allah.
- The Prophet ﷺ regularly used the Miswak and encouraged its use.
➋ Using Miswak Before Entering the House is a Prophetic Practice.
- The Prophet ﷺ would start with Miswak upon entering his home.
➌ The Prophet ﷺ Desired to Make Miswak Mandatory with Every Wudu.
- However, he did not enforce it out of consideration for his Ummah's hardship.
- This indicates the high recommendation of using Miswak before Wudu and Salah.
This content is taken from Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath’s book "Diya al-Islam fi Sharh al-Imam bi-Ahadith al-Ahkam", translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar Sahib.
