ONE HADITH A DAY

When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night, he would cleanse his mouth with Siwak (tooth-stick)

Agreed upon · Authentic

عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ.

“Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night, he would cleanse his mouth with Siwak (tooth-stick).”

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would often use the Siwāk and command the Muslims to use it. This practice was confirmed at certain times, like getting up during the night, as he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would brush and cleanse his mouth with the Siwāk.

Benefits

• The Hadīth affirms that using the Siwāk is prescribed under the Shariah after sleeping at night, as sleep entails a change to the odor of the mouth and the Siwāk is a means of cleaning.
• It emphasizes that using the Siwāk is prescribed under the Shariah whenever the mouth has a foul smell, based on the above meaning.
• Cleanliness in general is prescribed under the Shariah and it is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and one of the sublime etiquettes.
• The Siwāk is used for the whole mouth, including the teeth, the gums, and the tongue.
• The Siwāk is a stick cut from the Arak tree or other trees. It is used to clean the mouth and teeth, freshen the mouth, and remove bad odors.

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