Bismihi Ta`ala
*THE STICK OF HYGIENE -MISWAAK.*The yardstick of faith in Islam is hygiene. The beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’Cleanliness is half of faith/imaan.’’(Muslim)صحيح مسلم – ()عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الْإِيمَانِ We bath at least once weekly. There should be no impurity over our bodies in almost all conditions of life. Wouzu or the washing of the outerparts of the body is necessary condition before praying. Before burial of the deceased muslim, it is necessary to bath the body. During lifetime, pubic hairs and armpit hairs are shaved/removed weekly or at most before 40 days. Nails are cut on same time pattern. And as far as tooth is concerned, well it is recommended to keep the teeth clean at all time.It is recommended in Islam to use a piece of a tree wig to keep the teeth, tongue and mouth clean. The miswaak twig of salvadora persica tree/arak or that of olive twig is not only a good tool of hygiene, but it calls the Divine contentment. The beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘’The miswaak is a means of cleanliness for the mouth and its use pleases The Lord.’’(Ibn Khuzeimah)صحيح ابن خزيمة – (حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ قَزَعَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ الْهَاشِمِيُّ ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ، قَالَتْ : قَالَ : رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ.
Well cleanliness make us more close to God. That is why the virtue of a salaah done after using miswaak in wouzu will increase the reward by 70-Baihaqi/Ahmad. It is sunnah to use the twig miswaak during wouzu. The beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam would have made miswaak obligatory if it was not difficult upon us-Abu Dawood. It is recommended to clean the mouth when waking up, during wouzu, before salaahs, before reading Qur-aan, when going to meet someone or for meetings and also when entering home. In fact the beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam used to clean the tongue with the miswaak-Abu Dawood. And he would sometimes put the miswaak so much inside by the throat until the nausea and near vomit sound is heard-Bukhari.صحيح البخاري – ()عن غيلان بن جرير عن أبي بردة عن أبيه قالأتيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فوجدته يستن بسواك بيده يقول أع أع والسواك في فيه كأنه يتهوع This is not done at every moment. My teacher, Hazrat Mufti Radha ul Haq d.b. said that if you push the miswaak to the throat(to cause the sound of Aagh Aagh come out) in the morning after waking up, then Insha Allah you will not get sickness like tuberculosis Insha Allah. In fact a thorough washing the mouth and cleaning the teeth, the tongue with the miswaak and forcing the mucus over the throat to be spit out, then Insha Allah less infections would torment you. But do it to please Allah and to follow the beloved sunnah of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam. Nowadays, people like to hear the scientific benefits of sunnah. But the science of sunnah is love and attachment to the being named Muhammad peace be upon him. Even if it is sour or sweet, seems beneficial or not, understand it or not, still we will practice upon the sunnah simply because it is the practice of the beloved of Allah.Before using the miswaak, better wash it. Hold it with the right hand such that your small finger and thumb under it and the rest of fingers above it. Wash the mouth and then do miswaak around the teeth including the gums. Rewash to redo for 3 times. Well, ulamas said that do it until feels that the mouth is wholly clean, but conscious that 3 times is sunnah.The brushing of the gums with the soft wood strengthen the force of gums and also wake up your senses. Miswaak is said to increase memory capacity. In fact, miswaak, putting water in the mouth and throat and blowing out water from the nose are ways to make the brain fit for the day.Finally, cleaning the mouth with toothbrush and tooth paste is also good. But know that tooth cleaning is not a limited exercise. But recommended many times during the day and night. So the twig of wood is ideal for all those occasions. Because it is not limited to wouzu. But miswaak take the dimension of a sunnah of our deen.
If you forgot to do miswaak during wouzu, then do it before salaah to increase the sawaabs of your salaah by 70 times. And the greatest virtue of miswaak is that it brings you closer to Allah Ta`ala.In all cases, keep your miswaak clean and hygienically well kept.Our mother, hazrat Aisha r.a. was asked: ‘’What was the first task of the prophet when he entered home?’’ She would anwer: ‘’He would first do miswaak’’-Muslim.صحيح مسلم – ()عَنْ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَسَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ قُلْتُ بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ يَبْدَأُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ قَالَتْ بِالسِّوَاكِ
*Well, there is something to be learnt here for couple life. One should clean the mouth so as not to embarrass the partner during intimate closeness.* Both the partners should have a pleasant smell on the body before intimacy. Very recommended for the wife to beautify and prepare herself for the husband at night. And the man also should be reciprocally pleasant enough for her. Sometimes these sunnahs are left out and that is why there is degeneration of relations between couples.*
Mufti Mackoojee+23057921333