Miswak Benefits in Islam: A Guide to an Essential Sunnah
In the history of Islam, Basra in Iraq is a renowned city. On the outskirts of this city lived an ill-tempered man named Abu Salama. He was so hostile and averse to Islam that he kept himself away from even fundamental acts of worship like Salah (prayer) and Sawm (fasting). He would scoff at discussions about the Prophet’s traditions, such as the numerous miswak benefits in islam, viewing them as outdated.
Most alarmingly, he frequently ridiculed and made a mockery of the Sunnah (the traditions and practices) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He believed that in this modern age, the 1400-year-old customs were obsolete. Therefore, whenever he heard the Sunnah being mentioned, his temper would flare, and he would say whatever he pleased. He never once considered that mocking the Sunnah is not just a sin but also risks the loss of one’s Iman (faith) and can lead to a devastating end.
A Grave Disrespect to the Prophet’s (ﷺ) Sunnah
One day, in a gathering, the benefits of the Miswak (a tooth-cleaning twig) were being discussed. Upon hearing the discussion, Abu Salama arrogantly declared, “By God, I will not use this Miswak anywhere other than my back passage (anus).” (Na’udhubillah – we seek refuge in Allah).
Immediately after saying this, he took a Miswak in front of everyone, inserted it into his anus, and pulled it out. Those present were stunned by his vile act. Some gathered the courage to rebuke him, saying, “Abu Salama! What have you done? Such a grave act of disrespect toward the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ)! Repent immediately and seek forgiveness from Allah. Otherwise, you will have to face a severe punishment for this.”
But Abu Salama paid no heed to their words. Instead, he mocked them, “Oh, save your lectures! I’m not afraid of any of that. You’ll see, nothing will happen to me.”
The Horrific Consequence
Exactly nine months after that incident, Abu Salama began to experience excruciating pain in his stomach, which started to swell like that of a pregnant woman. His agonizing screams filled the air. No doctor or physician could diagnose his ailment, and no medicine worked. He would repeatedly lose consciousness from the intensity of the pain.
Those who knew about the incident from nine months prior understood that this was the grim punishment for his sin. After suffering unbearable agony for some days, he gave birth to a strange and terrifying creature that resembled a rat. The creature had four legs, a head like a fish, teeth protruding from its mouth, and a tail about a foot long. After its birth, it shrieked three times. When Abu Salama’s daughter struck it, it died.
After this event, Abu Salama lived for only two more days. Before his death, he would repeatedly cry out, “That creature has torn my insides to pieces.”
The renowned muhaddith (scholar of Hadith) and historian, Allama Ibn Kathir (rh), narrated this incident in his world-famous book, ‘Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah’ (The Beginning and the End), citing the account from Ibn Khallikan (rh).
Why We Must Love the Sunnah
This incident makes it crystal clear that every Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) is a guide for humanity. It is impossible to attain the pleasure of Allah while abandoning the Sunnah. In the Holy Quran, Allah states:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.'”
(Surah Al-Imran, Ayah: 31)
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever loves my Sunnah has loved me, and whoever has loved me will be with me in Paradise.”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2678)
Therefore, those who ridicule the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) should take a lesson from this story. Because when the punishment of Allah arrives, there will be no escape.
The Blessed Sunnah of Miswak & Its Benefits in Islam
The Miswak is an immensely important Sunnah, yet many do not give it the significance it deserves. The comprehensive miswak benefits in islam extend to both this world and the Hereafter, holding countless blessings for the believer.
70 Times More Reward: It is narrated from Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The prayer offered after using the Miswak is seventy times more virtuous than the prayer offered without it.” (Shu’ab al-Iman, al-Bayhaqi, Hadith: 2519)
The Pleasure of Allah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) also said, “Use the Miswak, for it cleanses the mouth and is a means of pleasing the Lord.” He continued, “Jibril (Gabriel) advised me to use the Miswak so frequently that I feared it might be made obligatory upon my Ummah (community).” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 289)
10 Proven Miswak Benefits in Islam
One Hadith mentions ten benefits of the Miswak:
- It cleanses the mouth.
- It is a means of pleasing Allah.
- It angers the Shaytan (Satan).
- Allah and His angels love the one who uses the Miswak.
- It strengthens the gums.
- It eliminates phlegm.
- It creates a pleasant fragrance in the mouth.
- It gets rid of bile.
- It improves eyesight.
- It eradicates bad breath.
Scholars have stated that the Miswak has more than seventy benefits. Among them, one of the greatest is that it helps one to recite the Kalima (declaration of faith) at the time of death. Ali (RA) said that using the Miswak enhances memory.
Three Instructive Stories About the Miswak
Hazrat Shibli (rh) and His Love for the Sunnah
Once, Hazrat Shibli (rh) needed a Miswak while preparing for wudu (ablution) but could not find one. He eventually purchased a Miswak for one dinar (a gold coin). Seeing this, someone remarked, “Spending so much for a single Miswak is extravagant!”
He replied, “To Allah, this entire world and everything in it is not worth even the wing of a fly. On the Day of Judgment, if Allah were to ask me, ‘Why did you not spend a resource, which to Me is not even worth the wing of a fly, to practice a Sunnah of My Prophet?’—what answer would I give then?”
The Impact of Miswak on Memory
Hazrat Ibrahim an-Nakha’i (rh) used to forget whatever he studied. One night, he saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in a dream and told him about his problem. The Prophet (ﷺ) gave him several pieces of advice, one of which was: “Use the Miswak with every wudu.”
Hazrat Ibrahim an-Nakha’i (rh) said, “After waking up, I began to follow the advice of the Prophet (ﷺ). As a result, not only did my memory improve, but within a short period, Allah blessed me with enormous knowledge.”
The Conquest of a Fortress Through the Blessing of Miswak
Hazrat Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (rh) was participating in a battle where a fortress held by non-believers seemed impossible to conquer. Worried, he saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in a dream one night. The Prophet (ﷺ) told him, “Perform wudu with the Miswak.”
Upon waking, he commanded himself and all the soldiers to use the Miswak. From atop the fortress, the enemy soldiers saw the Muslims brushing their teeth with twigs. This sight struck fear into their hearts. They thought, “These people are cannibals! They are sharpening their teeth before the battle so they can chew us up!”
Terrified by this, they sent an envoy from the fortress, surrendered, and embraced Islam. Thus, through the blessing of one small Sunnah, Allah the Almighty granted a massive victory.
May Allah grant all of us the ability (tawfiq) to act upon every Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), especially the Miswak. Ameen.
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