cleaning it. It is said: shasahu, yashusuhu (8), and masahu: when he washes it. From Aisha, she said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not sleep at any time of the night or day and then wake up without using the miswak before performing wudu. Extracted by Abu Dawud (9). This is because when he sleeps, his mouth remains closed, causing its odor to change. It is also recommended when the mouth odor changes due to eating or otherwise, because the miswak is prescribed to remove its odor and freshen it.
Section: One uses the miswak on the teeth and the tongue. Abu Musa said: We came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and I saw him using the miswak on his tongue. Agreed upon (10). And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "I use the miswak so much that I fear I might wear down the front of my mouth" (11). One should use the miswak horizontally, due to his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying: "Use the miswak horizontally, use oil occasionally, and apply kohl in odd numbers" (12). This is because using the miswak vertically from the edges of the teeth toward their roots might cause the gums to bleed and damage the root. It is recommended to start from the right side when using the miswak.
(9) In: The Chapter on the Miswak for one who wakes at night, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/14. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 6/121, 160. (10) It was extracted with this wording by Abu Dawud in: The Chapter on how one should use the miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/12. It was extracted with similar wording by Muslim in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sahih Muslim 1/220. And by al-Nasa'i in: The Chapter on how one should use the miswak, from the Book of Purification. Al-Mujtaba 1/14. And by Imam Ahmad in: Al-Musnad 4/417. As for what is "Agreed upon," it is the hadith of Abu Musa: "I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and found him cleaning his teeth with a miswak in his hand, saying, 'Ugh, ugh,' with the miswak in his mouth, as if he were retching." It was extracted by al-Bukhari in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Wudu. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/70. And by Muslim in: The Chapter on the Miswak, from the Book of Purification. Sahih Muslim 1/220. (11) It preceded on the previous page. (12) Al-Zarqani said: It has no basis with this specific wording. Yes, its meaning has appeared in various hadiths. Mukhtasar al-Maqasid al-Hasana 56. Ibn al-Dayba' said: Ibn al-Salah said: 'I searched for it and found no basis for it, nor is it mentioned in any of the books of hadith.' The first clause of it was narrated by Abu Nu'aym in Kitab al-Su'al, from the hadith of Aisha, who said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would use the miswak horizontally and not vertically.' In its chain of narration is Abdullah bin Hakim, who is discarded (matruk). The second clause was authenticated by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban from the hadith of Abdullah bin Mughaffal, who said: 'The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade grooming except occasionally.' The third clause is from Abu Dawud, from Abu Hurayrah, in a marfu' form: 'Whoever applies kohl, let him use an odd number; whoever does so, he has done well, and whoever does not, there is no blame.' Tamyiz al-Tayyib min al-Khabith 22.
