2/15. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 255c — Night Prayer and Siwak
Siwak (tooth-stick)
Miswak Before Night Prayer: A Hadith from Hudhaifa
Sahih Muslim : 255c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 255c
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، وَحُصَيْنٌ، وَالأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ .
Hudhaifa Narrated from:
Whenever he (the Holy Prophet) got up for prayer during the night, he cleansed his mouth with the tooth-stick.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 255cIn-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 62USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 493
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 255c
This hadith about miswak before night prayer repeats the meaning reported from Hudhaifa. Whenever the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم got up for prayer during the night, he cleansed his mouth with the toothstick. The focus is very narrow and clear. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rose in the night, prepared for prayer, and cleaned his mouth. The report does not add details about the length of the prayer or other acts, so the explanation should not add them either. Its main value is the link between night worship and oral cleanliness. For someone trying to follow the Sunnah of siwak, this hadith shows that the toothstick was used even during private worship in the night.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used siwak before night prayer.
- The hadith connects worship with personal cleanliness.
- The action is reported as something he would do when rising at night.
- The report encourages mindful preparation before prayer.
