The scholars are in agreement that it is a confirmed Sunnah, due to the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouragement of it, his perseverance in practicing it, his desire for it, his recommendation of it, and his designation of it as being from the fitra (innate disposition) as we have narrated from the hadith. It has been narrated from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "The miswak is a purification for the mouth and a means of gaining the pleasure of the Lord." Extracted by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (3). And from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: "When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered his house, he would begin with the miswak." Extracted by Muslim (4). It has also been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "I use the miswak so much that I fear I might wear down the front of my mouth." Extracted by Ibn Majah (5).
Its recommendation is emphasized in three situations: at the time of prayer, due to the first report; and when waking up from sleep, because of what Hudhayfah narrated, saying: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) woke up at night (6), he would clean his mouth with the miswak." Agreed upon (7). Meaning: he would wash it. It is said: shasahu, yashusuhu (8), and masahu: when...
(3) Al-Musnad 1/3, 10. It was also extracted from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, by al-Bukhari in: The Chapter on the Miswak for the fasting person, both fresh and dry, from the Book of Fasting. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/40. And by al-Nasa'i in: The Chapter on the encouragement of the miswak, from the Book of Purification. Al-Mujtaba 1/15. And by al-Darimi in: The Chapter on the miswak as a purification for the mouth, from the Book of Wudu. Sunan al-Darimi 1/174. And by Imam Ahmad in Al-Musnad 6/47, 62, 124, 146, 238. It was also extracted from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, by Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 2/108. (4) In: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sahih Muslim 1/220. It was extracted by al-Nasa'i in: The Chapter on the Miswak at all times, from the Book of Purification. Al-Mujtaba 1/17. And by Ibn Majah in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/106. And by Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 6/41, 42, 110, 182, 188, 192, 237. (5) In: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/106. Imam Ahmad narrated something similar in: Al-Musnad 5/263. (6) In A: "sleeping". (7) Extracted by al-Bukhari in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Wudu; and in: The Chapter on the Miswak on Friday, from the Book of Jumu'ah; and in: The Chapter on the length of standing in night prayer, from the Book of Tahajjud. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/70, 2/5, 64. And by Muslim in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sahih Muslim 1/220, 221. And by Abu Dawud in: The Chapter on the Miswak for one who wakes at night, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/14. And by al-Nasa'i in: The Chapter on the Miswak when waking at night, from the Book of Purification; and in: The Chapter on what one does when waking at night regarding the miswak, from the Book of Night Prayer. Al-Mujtaba 1/13, 3/172. And by Ibn Majah in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/105. And by al-Darimi in: The Chapter on the Miswak during Tahajjud, from the Book of Wudu. Sunan al-Darimi 1/175. And by Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 5/382, 390, 397, 402, 407. (8) An addition from M.
