A forgotten practice: “I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my teachings, and if you follow these, you will never go astray.” [The Last Will of Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him] (Al-Mustadrak, Hadith 318).
In this modern day and age, we are constantly reminded and bombarded by commercials about our health and beauty, promoting new products at great prices each day. There is nothing wrong with looking after and maintaining our hygiene by spending a little extra on products to maintain our skin, shiny hair, or sparkling white teeth. Islam has emphasized the importance of hygiene and cleanliness to such an extent that it has even shown mankind the etiquette of answering the call of nature and the removal of unwanted hair.
To understand the importance of hygiene in Islam, I will quote a saying of Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him: “Cleanliness is half of faith.” I would like to draw your attention to one forgotten Sunnah, which was greatly used and practiced by our predecessors. In fact, it was a custom of the previous prophets who lived thousands of years ago. This forgotten practice is none other than the Miswaak!
Some of you may be unfamiliar with it, while others may know a little. Trust me and read on, and all your questions will be answered. You may even be surprised regarding this forgotten practice.
When fasting, the mouth can become dry and parched, and since you cannot consume food or drink, there is a chance of bad odor from the mouth due to stomach gases. Islam is a religion of peace, which teaches Muslims not to harm others, whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. There is a hadith that states that using the miswaak before prayer (salah) multiplies its reward by seventy times. (Al-Mustadrak, Hadith 515)
It’s Ramadan — the rewards for prayers are increased. But wait! Imagine using miswaak before prayer and earning SEVENTY TIMES MORE REWARDS! This is Ramadan, a month of blessings. Plant your seeds and watch them grow in the Hereafter.
Before the invention of our modern toothbrush and mouthwash, the miswaak was the tool of choice for keeping a person’s breath fresh and teeth clean. It is a small twig, the size of a hand span, from certain trees that was used for oral hygiene. During the time of Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, this practice was so important that it was likely the only optional practice emphasized to such a great extent. The Messenger stated, “Angel Jibraeel used to urge me to use the miswaak so much that I feared this practice would be decreed as an obligation upon this nation. If I did not fear hardship for my nation, I would have made it obligatory.†(Ibn Maajah: 289)
The miswaak has great benefits, both spiritually and scientifically. Before I list its benefits, it’s important to note that this practice is still taught in some survival and military schools, where people learn to adapt to nature after losing their provisions.
A small article I found: A 2003 scientific study comparing the use of miswaak with ordinary toothbrushes concluded that the results clearly favored the users of miswaak, provided they had proper instruction on how to use it. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the use of miswaak in 1986 and again in 2000, in an international consensus report on oral hygiene, which concluded that further research was needed to document the effects of miswaak. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miswak#cite_note-3)
The miswaak is commonly sourced from the following trees:
- Salvadora persica (Araak/Peelu)
- Olive tree
- Walnut tree
These are the most common ones, and they are also documented in the sayings and teachings of Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him. “Use the miswaak of the olive tree. It is the miswaak of a mubaarak (auspicious or gracious) tree. It purifies and makes wholesome the mouth. It removes the yellowness of the teeth. It is my miswaak and the miswaak of the Ambiyaa (prophets) who came before me.†(Al-Mu`jamul-Awsat: 678)
Here are some physical benefits of miswaak:
- Strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay.
- Helps eliminate toothaches and prevents further decay.
- Creates a fragrance in the mouth.
- Acts as a cure for illnesses.
- Eliminates bad odors and improves the sense of taste.
- Sharpens memory.
- Cures headaches.
- Creates luster (noor) on the face of regular users.
- Makes the teeth glow.
- Strengthens eyesight.
- Assists in digestion.
- Clears the voice.
The miswaak has become a topic of modern scientific interest, baffling doctors and researchers with its ability to prevent oral diseases and promote overall oral health.
The Messenger has said: “Make a regular practice of the miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and a pleasure for the Creator (i.e., Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the miswaak).” (Ibn Maajah: 289)
Using the miswaak before prayer multiplies the reward of the prayer by seventy times. It has countless spiritual benefits, one of the most profound being that the believer will die with the testimony of faith — “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His final Messenger” — on their tongue.
There is nothing unusual about using a twig to clean your mouth. I encourage you to research the miswaak in modern science. Would you revive this forgotten practice to uplift your spiritual life — a practice loved by the Messenger? Or would you discard it because it has no space or recognition in the world of tomorrow?
How much money do we spend on health-related products when the miswaak, with its proven health benefits, costs no more than a few loose coins?