1/25. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 47 — Siwak Before Prayer in Daily Practice
The Siwak
Hadith About Miswak Before Salah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 47
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 47
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ فَرَأَيْتُ زَيْدًا يَجْلِسُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَإِنَّ السِّوَاكَ مِنْ أُذُنِهِ مَوْضِعُ الْقَلَمِ مِنْ أُذُنِ الْكَاتِبِ فَكُلَّمَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ اسْتَاكَ .
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Were it not hard on my ummah, I would order them to use the tooth-stick at the time of every prayer. AbuSalamah said: Zayd ibn Khalid used to attend the prayers in the mosque with his tooth-stick on his ear where a clerk carries a pen, and whenever he got up for prayer he used it.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 47In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 47English translation : Book 1, Hadith 47
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 47
This hadith about miswak before salah repeats a clear message: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that if it were not hard on his ummah, he would order them to use the tooth-stick at the time of every prayer. The report then shows how Zayd ibn Khalid took this teaching seriously. Abu Salamah says he saw Zayd sitting in the mosque with his siwak on his ear, like a clerk keeps a pen. Whenever he stood for prayer, he used it. The hadith therefore combines the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم teaching with a companion’s steady practice. It does not say every person must carry it in that exact way, but it shows strong care for this sunnah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Siwak at prayer time was strongly encouraged in the wording of the hadith.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not order it because of concern for hardship on the ummah.
- Zayd ibn Khalid kept the siwak ready and used it when standing for prayer.
- The narration shows how a companion put the teaching into daily practice.
