Miswaak has been used all over the World by all communities.
Medical definition of oral cavity is the cavity of the mouth; especially the part of the mouth behind the gums & teeth that is bounded above by the hard & soft palates & below by the tongue & by the mucous membrane connecting it with the inner part of the mandible.
Bacteria & viruses usually cause oral infections. They can affect the teeth, gums, palate, tongue, lips & inside of the cheeks. Simple oral infections are limited to the mouth & are different from oral lesions, which are non-infectious & may be a sign of an illness that involves other parts of the body. Oral infections are very common. Tooth decay is the second most common infectious condition after the common cold.
Abdur-Rahman Bin Abu Atiq رضي الله عنه says: “My father told me: “I heard A’isha رضي الله عنها saying, (narrating) from Nabi ﷺ: “Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth & is pleasing to the Lord.”
(Nasa’i: 5; Book. 1; English vol. 1; Book. 1, Hadees. 5)
Hazrat Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه reports that Nabi ﷺ said: Use the tooth stick, for the tooth stick purifies the mouth & is pleasing to the Lord. Jibrail never came to me but he advised me to use the tooth stick, until I feared that it would be made obligatory for me & my Ummah. Was it not that I fear that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have enjoined it upon them. & I use the tooth stick until I fear that I may make the front of my mouth sore. (I.e. my gums) (Or cause my teeth to fall out due to brushing them so often).”
[Ibn Ma-jah: 304; Book. 1; English vol. 1; Book. 1, Hadees. 289]
Hazrat Abu Saeed رضي الله عنه says that Nabi ﷺ said: It is Wajib (واجب) (obligation) to do Siwak (السواك) Miswaak & it is Wajib (واجب) to bath on every Friday to every Muslim & to apply Itar (الطِّيب) if available.
[Bukhari: 880; Book. 11; English vol. 2; Book. 13; Hadees. 5]
Narrated by Abu Musa رضي الله عنه that “I came to Nabi ﷺ when He ﷺ was using the Siwak & the end of the Siwak was on His Tongue & He ﷺ was saying, “A, a”.
[Nasa’i: 3; Book. 1; English vol. 1; Book. 1, Hadees. 3]
(Means cleaning the tongue)
A’isha رضي الله عنها narrated that “Nabi ﷺ would clean His teeth with the Siwak & then He ﷺ would give me the Siwak in order to wash it. So I would first use it myself, then wash it & return it.
[Abu Dawud: 52; Book. 1; English Book. 1; Hadees. 51]
Hazrat Amir Bin Rabi”ah رضي الله عنه narrated from his father that he saw, Rasoolullah ﷺ doing Miswaak during fasting (number of times).
[Tirmizi: 725; Book. 8, English vol. 2; Book. 3, Hadees. 725]
Narrated by Huzaifa رضي الله عنه, Whenever Nabi ﷺ got up for Tahajjud prayer He ﷺ used to clean His Mouth (and Teeth) with Siwak.
[Bukhari: 1136; Book. 19; English vol. 2; Book. 21; Hadees. 237]
Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما says that Rasoolullah ﷺ said that the ten benefits of Siwak (السواك) (Miswaak) are: –
Brings good smell in mouth
Makes gums stronger
Makes eye sight stronger
Removes phlegm
Reliefs inflammation
It is Sunnah
Pleases Farishtaas (Angles)
Pleases Allah Ta’ala
Is Neki (Sawaab)
Cleans the bowel
[Kanz al-Ummal: 26185]
Hazrat Maaz Bin Jabal رضي الله عنه says that Nabi ﷺ said: The best twig (miswaak) is of Olive (Zaitoon) the precious tree, because it gives good smell in mouth, reduces swelling, it is liked by Me, & was liked by Prophets عليهم السلام who came before me.
[Mojam Ausat: 678]
Narrated by Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما that Nabi ﷺ drank milk & then rinsed (Gargle) His Mouth & said: “It contains fat.”
[Bukhari: 5609; Book. 74; English vol. 7; Book. 69; Hadees. 514]
The version of Ibn Juraij has the working “If you perform ablution, then rinse your mouth.”
[Abu Dawud: 144; Book. 1; English Book. 1; Hadees. 144]
Narrated by Ali Bin Abu Talib رضي الله عنه that “Your mouths are the paths of the Quran, so perfume them with the tooth stick.”
[Ibn Ma-jah: 306; Book. 1; English vol. 1; Book. 1, Hadees. 291]
Science Studies
The Wrigley Company conducted a study on the Miswaak which was published in the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry in 2007. Wrigley’s research concluded that mints laced with Miswaak extract were 20 times more effective in killing bacteria than ordinary mints. A small testimony to this fact is that, after half an hour, the mints laced with Miswaak extract killed about 60% of the bacteria where as the ordinary mints managed only 3.6%. (Please remember the ratio mentioned in Hadees, about Salah offered after using Siwak (Miswaak) is 70 times better than Salah offered without doing Miswaak).
In August 2008 issue of the Journal of Period ontology, there appeared a study conducted by Swedish researchers on the Miswaak, as well. The study apparently found that suspended Miswaak pieces in a petridish, the medium for culturing bacteria, were able to kill bacteria that cause periodontal disease without being in physical contact with bacteria. The researchers, however, suggested that Miswaak pieces may have been sprayed with anti-biotic gases, in their attempt to explain phenomenon. Yet another study, one comparing the use of the toothbrush & the use of the Miswaak (2003) can be reviewed currently online at the website for the U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health (PubMed).
The study concluded that Miswaak was more effective than tooth brushing in reducing plaque & gingivitis (inflammation of gums) provided it was used correctly. Similar studies found on the same website & elsewhere vouch for the effectiveness of Miswaak over toothbrush. “The miswaak appeared to be more effective than tooth brushing for removing plaque from the embrasures, thus enhancing interproximal health,” stated the researchers.
There have been plenty of published studies on the Miswaak & in fact, entire books published which study its oral & systemic benefits.
With its strong anti-bacterial properties & perpendicular bristles, the Miswaak is a natural toothbrush, toothpaste & floss combined.
For further information on different foods check our is it halal or haram site. Some benefits of ginger are also helpful for this.
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