Miswak or Siwak is a natural toothbrush prepared from the roots or branches of various trees and bushes. The Qur’an did not mention directly the commandment of Siwak practice, however the general principle of hygiene has been explained in the holy Qur’an. The Qur’an states that Muslims need to be clean. The role of a Hadith is significant in explaining the details of hygienic lifestyle including the precision of oral cleanliness. Among the Prophetic narrations that recommend the culture of Miswak is the following: “But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution” (Sahih Bukhari). This Hadith carries strong recommendation for Siwak practice; nevertheless this Hadith does not imply the compulsory obligation of siwak for Muslim. Though most of Muslim jurists, like Abu Zakariya and others, agreed that the Siwak is strongly recommended (Sunnah Muakkadah) in Islam, however, there are those like Ibn Ishaq b. Qudamah Rahawayh and Dawud al-Tayalisiyi who held the view that Siwak is a compulsory (Wajib) practice. “I would have ordered them) mentioned in the Hadith as a connotation of obligatory” (Al-Nawawi). In another Hadith, Aishah (RA) narrates the following: “The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, it (Siwak) is purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Almighty Allah’s pleasures” (Sahih Bukhari). This Hadith explains the importance of performing Siwak in Islam; on the one hand, this Hadith teaches us that Siwak (tooth brush) helps us to clean mouth, and it is the way to seek the pleasure of Almighty Allah, on the other hand.
Though the mainstream of the Muslim jurists are of the view that Siwak is strongly recommended practice in Islam, there are number of Muslim jurists who hold the view that Siwak is, indeed, mandatory practice in Islam. Similarly, there debate is on among Muslim jurists, on whether the use of Siwak can be replaced with toothbrush or other tools to clean the teeth and mouth, however, still the usage of Siwak has its own unique features.
Furthermore, Huzaifah (RA) narrated that; “Whenever Prophet Muhammad (SAW) got up at night, he used to clean his mouth with Siwak” (Sahih Bukhari). Both of the above mentioned Hadith have shown the priority that has been given by the Prophet (SAW) to dental care. Though the mainstream of the Muslim jurists are of the view that Siwak is strongly recommended practice in Islam, there are number of Muslim jurists who hold the view that Siwak is, indeed, mandatory practice in Islam. Similarly, there debate is on among Muslim jurists, on whether the use of Siwak can be replaced with toothbrush or other tools to clean the teeth and mouth, however, still the usage of Siwak has its own unique features.
