Using Miswak
Total Hadiths 41
The Importance and Practice of Using Miswak in Islam
The use of the Miswak or Siwak (a natural tooth-stick) holds an incredibly elevated status in Islamic dental hygiene and daily worship. The provided authentic traditions demonstrate how much significance the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) attached to this practice, noting that he would have made it mandatory before every single prayer if he had not worried it might become too heavy a burden for his followers. He continually reminded his companions about its importance, ensuring a clean mouth remained a key preparation for worship. He habitually cleaned his mouth with it when waking up for night prayers, and maintained this practice throughout his life, using it even in his final moments. According to Islamic scholars, these traditions underscore that personal cleanliness and oral freshness are deeply intertwined with spiritual devotion.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ يُونُسَ - عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ شُرَيْحٍ - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ يَبْدَأُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ قَالَتْ بِالسِّوَاكِ .
It was narrated from Al-Miqdam - Abu Shuraih - that his father said: "I said to 'Aishah: 'What did the Prophet (ﷺ) start with when he entered his house?' She said: 'The Siwak.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 8In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 8English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 8
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي ـ أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ ـ لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ مَعَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If I had not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak for every prayer."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 887In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 12USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 12
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah (nation), I would have commanded them to use the tooth stick at every time of prayer.'
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 287In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 287
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ - وَفِي حَدِيثِ زُهَيْرٍ عَلَى أُمَّتِي - لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Apostle (ﷺ) said: Were it not that I might over-burden the believers-and in the hadith transmitted by Zuhair" people" -I would have ordered them to use toothstick at every time of prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 252In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 56USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 487
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Siwak at (the time of) every Salah."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 7In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 7
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدْ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . وَحَدِيثُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَزَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كِلاَهُمَا عِنْدِي صَحِيحٌ لأَنَّهُ قَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ . وَحَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ إِنَّمَا صَحَّ لأَنَّهُ قَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ . وَأَمَّا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ حَدِيثَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ أَصَحُّ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ وَعَلِيٍّ وَعَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَحُذَيْفَةَ وَزَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَأَنَسٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَأُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ وَأَبِي أُمَامَةَ وَأَبِي أَيُّوبَ وَتَمَّامِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَنْظَلَةَ وَأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَوَاثِلَةَ بْنِ الأَسْقَعِ وَأَبِي مُوسَى .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah'S Messenger Said: "If It Were Not That It Would Be Difficult On My Nation, Then I Would Have Ordered Them To Use The Siwak For Each Prayer."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 22In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 22
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُصَيْنٌ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بِتُّ لَيْلَةً عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظَ مِنْ مَنَامِهِ أَتَى طَهُورَهُ فَأَخَذَ سِوَاكَهُ فَاسْتَاكَ ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ } حَتَّى قَارَبَ أَنْ يَخْتِمَ السُّورَةَ أَوْ خَتَمَهَا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَتَى مُصَلاَّهُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَنَامَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَفَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَنَامَ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَفَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَنَامَ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَفَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَسْتَاكُ وَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ قَالَ فَتَسَوَّكَ وَتَوَضَّأَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ } حَتَّى خَتَمَ السُّورَةَ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
I spent a night with the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam). When he woke up from his sleep (in the latter part of the night for prayer) he came to his ablution water. He took the tooth-stick and used it.He then recited the verse: "Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are tokens (of His Sovereignty) for men of understanding" (iii-190).He recited these verses up to the end of the chapter or he finished the whole chapter. He then performed ablution and came to the place of prayer. He then said two rak'ahs of prayer. He then lay down on the bed and slept as much as Allaah wished. He then got up and did the same. He then lay down and slept. He then got up and did the same. Every time he used the tooth-stick and offered two rak'ah of prayer. He then offered the prayer known as witr. Abu Dawud said: Fudail on the authority if Husain reported the wording: He then used the tooth-stick and performed ablution while he was reciting the verses: "Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth..." until he finished the chapter.
[1] Āl 'Imrān 3:190.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 58In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 58English translation : Book 1, Hadith 57
حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَثَّامُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يُصَلِّي بِاللَّيْلِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَنْصَرِفُ فَيَسْتَاكُ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah used to pray in the night (Qiyamul-Lail) two Rak'ah by two, then when he finished he would use the tooth stick.
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 288In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 288
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، بَاتَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقَامَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ فَخَرَجَ فَنَظَرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فِي آلِ عِمْرَانَ { إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ} حَتَّى بَلَغَ { فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ} ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَتَسَوَّكَ وَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَخَرَجَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَتَلاَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَتَسَوَّكَ فَتَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Ibn 'Abbas reported that he spent a night at the house of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), The Apostle of Allah (way peace be upon him) got up for prayer in the latter part of the night. He went out and looked towards the sky and then recited this verse (190th) of AI-i-'Imran: " Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day." up to the (words)" save us from the torment of Hell."He then returned to his house, used the tooth-stick, performed the ablution, and then got up and offered the prayer. He than lay down on the bed. and again got up and went out and looked towards the sky and recited this verse (mentioned above), then returned, used the tooth-stick, performed ablution and again offered the prayer.
[1] Āl-‘Imrân 3:190-191.Reference : Sahih Muslim 256In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 63USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 2, Hadith 494
وَقَالَ عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا صَخْرُ بْنُ جُوَيْرِيَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَرَانِي أَتَسَوَّكُ بِسِوَاكٍ، فَجَاءَنِي رَجُلاَنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الآخَرِ، فَنَاوَلْتُ السِّوَاكَ الأَصْغَرَ مِنْهُمَا، فَقِيلَ لِي كَبِّرْ. فَدَفَعْتُهُ إِلَى الأَكْبَرِ مِنْهُمَا ". قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ اخْتَصَرَهُ نُعَيْمٌ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ أُسَامَةَ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ.
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I dreamt that I was cleaning my teeth with a Siwak and two persons came to me. One of them was older than the other and I gave the Siwak to the younger. I was told that I should give it to the older and so I did."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 246In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 112USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 246
