Miswak With Uncountable Benefits

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: Miswak means ‘rub’; it is an instrument of rubbing teeth. In Shari’ah, Miswak is a piece of wood that is used to clean teeth. It is Sunnah that Miswak should not be from a tree that produces fruit or flowers, but rather it should be from a tree having bitter taste. Thickness of Miswak should be equal to that of the little finger. It should not be longer than one’s hand span; it should be used to brush teeth horizontally, not vertically; a toothless person and women should move [clean their teeth with finger] a finger.

It is Mustahab for women to use Sakra or Missi (a tree bark) instead of Miswak; they should clean their teeth with a finger because their gums are weak. Using Miswak is a Sunnah on these occasions: During Wudu, before reciting the Holy Quran Karim, when teeth become yellowish, when bad smell comes from the mouth due to being hungry, or being quiet for a long time, or due to being wakeful.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 1, pp. 274, 278)

Miswak is a very important Sunnah which has been highly emphasized to practise. Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُمَا has narrated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: No doubt, I have been commanded for Miswak so much that I fear lest a revelation is sent to me about Miswak.

(Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 1, pp. 658, Hadees 2799)

Miswak kills germs. It removes bad smell from the mouth. Sometimes, bits of food get stuck in between the teeth which do not get removed only by rinsing the mouth and which cause foul smell in the mouth and illnesses. The Miswak-using person remains safe from many illnesses. New research has revealed that there are some germs which are not removed by toothbrush and tooth paste. They can be removed only by Miswak.

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُمَا has narrated: Once someone humbly said to The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! This time Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَـلَـيْهِ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّلَام has taken much time to come to you? The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Why should he not delay as you [people] sitting around me do not use Miswak, cut nails, trim moustache and clean the roots of your fingers.

(Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 5, pp. 104, Hadees 2072)

Our pious saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی would worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and follow the Sunnah of Rasool regularly. Death throes could not reduce the enthusiasm and passion for acting upon Sunnah. That’s why they have attained such an exalted and elevated rank by the bestowal of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that the Islamic world has accepted them their Imam and Muslims will continue to pay tributes to them.

On the Day of Judgment, a day will be equal to 50,000 years; the sky will break; the stars will drop; the moon and the sun will lose Noor [light]; the earth will be of copper; people will be emaciated due to the intensity of hunger; their tongue will dry due to thirst; they will be perspiring heavily; nobody will be solicitous about anyone; mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister, husband and wife, friends, in short, no one will help each other. Under such circumstances, the fortunate people, who followed the Sunnah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and acted upon the Sunnah which were being practised by very few people in the mortal worldly life of few days, so اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ they will be given good news of forgiveness and entrance to Paradise on the Judgment Day.

The blessed Hadees has been mentioned on page 55 of an 88-page book namely, ‘Saya-e-‘Arsh kis kis ko Milay Ga’ [Who will Get the Shade of Arsh?] published by Maktaba-tul-Madinah, the publishing department of Dawat-e-Islami: Sayyiduna Anas Bin Maalik رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has narrated: Umm-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا humbly requested the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Who will be close to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in the valleys of Paradise? The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: The one who revives my Sunnah and will remove the trouble of my distressed follower (Ummati), these Sunnahs will take him to Paradise after saving him from all the troubles.

خُلد میں ہوگا ہمارا داخِلہ اِس شان سے

یَا رَسُولَ الله کا نعرہ لگاتے جائیں گے

Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has said: اَلسِّوَاکُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ کُلِّ دَاءٍ اِلَّاالسَّامَ وَالسَّامُ، اَلْمَوْتُ Miswak is a cure for every disease except death.

(Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 5, pp. 137, Hadees 26159)

Victory in battle by virtue of Miswak

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه divided his life into three parts. One year he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would go to perform Hajj, one year he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would go to participate in battle and one year he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would give Dars of Islamic knowledge. Once he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه participated in a battle in which Muslims were not able to conquer the fort of unbelievers. Worried about it, he fell asleep and saw in a dream that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saying: O ‘Abdullah! What are you worried about? Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied: Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! We are trying our best but unable to conquer this fort. I am worried about it. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Perform Wudu with Miswak. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه woke from the dream; performed Wudu with Miswak and ordered Salah-offering people to use Miswak.

When the security guards of the fort saw Ghazis (title of a Muslim fighting against non-Muslims) using Miswak, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ put a fear into their hearts. They went downstairs and told the chiefs of the fort: The army down there seems to be man-eaters; they are sharpening their teeth so that they can eat us after defeating. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ put this terror into their hearts and they sent a messenger to Muslims with a message: Do you want wealth or life? Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied: [We] neither want money nor life; you all embrace Islam, you will get salvation. By virtue of the blessing of this Sunnah they all embraced Islam and became Muslims.

For making [Muslims] obey His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated in Ayah 21 of Surah Al Ahzaab:

لَقَدۡ کَانَ لَکُمۡ فِیۡ رَسُوۡ لِ اللّٰہِ اُسۡوَ ۃٌ حَسَنَۃٌ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Indeed following the Noble Rasool of Allah is better for you.

(Part 21, Surah Al-Ahzaab, Ayah 21)

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُمَا has narrated: There are 10 virtues of Miswak: It cleans the mouth, strengthens the gums, strengthens the eyesight, removes phlegm, removes bad breath; it is in accordance with the Sunnah; the angels become happy; Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ becomes pleased; it increases virtues and restore the stomach to health.

(Jam’-ul-Jawami’, vol. 5, pp. 249, Hadees 14867)

A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: For women, Miswak is the Sunnah of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا but there is no harm if they do not use it. As compared to men, the teeth and gums of women are weaker; for them Missi (a kind of herbal tooth powder) is sufficient.

(Malfuzaat A’la Hadrat, pp. 357)

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself said: خَیْرُ الْھُدیٰ ھُدیٰ مُحَمَّدٍ The best path is the path of Muhammad (صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) .

(Al-Ihsan bittarteeb Sahih Ibn Habbaan, vol. 1, pp. 106, Hadees 10)

Miswak has countless worldly and the Hereafter benefits. It contains many chemical components which protect the teeth from every type of infection. Sayyiduna ‘Ali-ul-Murtada, Sayyiduna ‘Ata and Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُم have said: Use of Miswak strengthens memory, cures headache and relaxes the veins in the head; it eliminates phlegm, improves eyesight, rectifies stomach and helps digest food; it fortifies intellect, increases the number of the birth of one’s children, delays ageing and strengthens the back.

(Haashiyah Tahtaawi, pp. 38)

By virtue of the blessing of one Sunnah [use of Miswak] not only did Muslims achieve the victory, but the enemies also embraced Islam and became Muslims. No doubt, our victory and success lie in the beautiful ways and Sunnah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. If we want to regain the lost glory and dignity and the dominance of Islam, we will have to practice every Sunnah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد