Miswak: A Great Sunnah

Rasulullah, peace be upon him, said:
“Use the Miswak, for it is a means of cleansing the mouth and attaining the pleasure of Allah. Every time Jibril (‘alayhi salam) came to me he advised me to use the Miswak, to an extent that I feared it may become obligatory for me and my ummah to use it. If it wasn’t for the fear of creating difficulty upon my followers, I would have made it binding on them. Indeed I use the Miswak so much that I fear for my gums.”
(Ibn Majah, Hadith: 289, see Targhib 1/166)
The Scholars have enumerated up to ten different moments in which the Miswak should be used:
1. Upon awakening
2. While making wudhu
3. Before offering salah (provided the gums don’t bleed)
4. Before reciting the Holy Quran
5. Before meeting with people
6. Upon entering the home
7. When one is hungry
8. When the teeth become yellow
9. When the mouth has a bad odour
10. Before death (if one can sense it)
References:
Fathul Qadir, vol. 1, pg. 22, Raddul Muhtar (Shamiy) vol. 1, Pgs. 113-114, and Khisalul Fitrah of Imam Abu Shamah Al-Maqdisiy (rahimahullah) pgs. 27-37)
Miswak is a great Sunnah that we need to bring back into our lives. Ameen.