Rewards of using the Miswaak

Using the Miswaak is a Sunnah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. A great deal of emphasis has been laid on using the Miswaak which can be clearly understood from the narrations recorded below. The least benefit of using the Miswaak is that a person will be blessed with recitation of Kalimah-e-Shahaadah at the time of death. Hence, no person should deprive himself/herself from using the Miswaak.

Hadrat Abu Umaamah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Use the Miswaak for it purifies the mouth and earns the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. On every occasion that Jibraeel Alaihis Salaam came to me, he advised me to use the Miswaak, to such an extent that I feared it might be made compulsory on me and my followers. Were it not for my fear of causing difficulty on my Ummah, I would have made the use of the Miswaak compulsory for them. I use the Miswaak to such an extent that I fear losing my front teeth.” (Ibn Majah)

Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “Were it not for my fear of causing difficulty on my followers, I would have ordered them to use the Miswaak for every Salaah.” (Sahih Al Bukhari)

Imam Ahmad Rahimahullah and Ibn Khuzaymah Rahimahullah also narrate the above Hadith but with the following words: “I would have ordered them to use the Miswaak with every Wudhu.” (Ahmad)

Ibn Hibban Rahimahullah also narrates the above Hadith but with the following words: “…with the Wudhu at the time of every Salaah.”  (Ibn Hibban)

Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu ordered that the Miswaak be used and said, “Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, ‘When a person uses a Miswaak and then stands up for Salaah, an angel stands behind him and listens to his recitation. The angel then draws closer and closer to him each time he recites a verse or a similar word. The angel then places his mouth on the person’s mouth. Now, whatever of the Quraan he utters, goes directly into the angel. You should therefore purify your mouths for the Quraan.” (Al Bazzar)

Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alahi Wasallam said: “The superiority of Salaah with Miswaak is seventy times more than Salaah without Miswaak.” (Muslim)