Blessed Ahadees about the virtues of Miswak

Dear Islamic brothers! 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, 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)

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُمَا has narrated: Once someone humbly said to the Beloved Rasool 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)

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah has narrated that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Use Miswak because Miswak has purification of the mouth and the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Whenever [Sayyiduna] Jibra`eel came to me, he advised me to use Miswak to such an extent that I feared lest it should become Fard for me and for my Ummah and if I had not had the fear of my Ummah’s struggle, I would have made the use of Miswak Fard for them and