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(ABU DAWOOD)
Similar Ahadith have been narrated by Imam Ahmad (R) and Abu Yatlaa (R). Imam Ghazali (R] has mentioned in his Ihya-ul-Uloom that a person before sleeping at night should keep his water and Miswaak ready and close at hand. As soon as he wakes from sleep during the night he should immediately use the water and the Miswaak, and engage in the remembrance of Allah. Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (R) states:
"The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam): would use the Miswaak at night time (i.e. Tahajjud time) after every two Rakaats Salaat he (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) performed."
(IBN MAJAH)
Allamah Aini (R) has recorded the following in Bunayah:
"It is Mustahab to use the Miswaak after every two Rakaats of Tahajjud Salaat (i.e. the Salaat which is performed after midnight), as well as on Fridays, before sleeping, after Witr Salaat and when rising in the morning."
(BUNAYAH)
MISWAAK UPON ENTERING HOME
"Shuraih (R) narrates that he asked Aisha (R): 'What was the first thing Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did upon entering the house?'
Aisha (R) replied: 'Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would use the Miswaak'."
(MUSLIM)
MISWAAK UPON LEAVING HOME
"Whenever Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) left the house he would use the Miswaak."
(KASHFUL GHUMMAH)
MISWAAK BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS
"Abu Hurairah (R) said:
"I have used the Miswaak before sleeping, after rising, before eating and after eating, ever since I heard the Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) advising so'."
(AHMAD)
MISWAAK BEFORE RECITING THE HOLY QUR'AAN
"Hadhrat Ali (R) said:
'Verily, your mouths are the pathways of the Qur'aan (i.e. you recite with your mouth), therefore cleanse your mouth with the Miswaak thoroughly'."
(IBN MAJAH)
"The use of the Miswaak has greater emphasis when one intends to perform Salaat, Wudhu and reciting the Qur'aan."
(BUNAYAH)
MISWAAK ON FRIDAYS
"Ibn Sabaaq (R) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said on one Friday:
'O Gathering of Muslims, Allah has made this Day (Friday) a Day of Eid for Muslims, therefore, bathe (on this day), use perfume and regard the use of the Miswaak (on this day) as an obligation upon you'."
(MUATTA IMAM MUHAMMAD)
'Suhail Bin Hanief states that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that to bathe and use the Miswaak on Fridays are of the Hugooq (Rights or Duties) of Friday."
MISWAAK DURING FASTING
"Aamir Bin Rabiyah (R) narrates:
'I have seen Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) using the Miswaak many a time while fasting'."
(IBN MAJAH)
In another Hadith our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that one of the best characteristics of a fasting person is his use of the Miswaak.
The majority of the Ulama have opined that it is Sunnat to use the Miswaak while fasting. It is recorded in Fataawa Siraajiah that a fasting person may use a dry or a moist (i.e. fresh, green) Miswaak.
It is recorded in many Ahadith that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and his Sahaba were in the habit of having their Miswaaks on their persons while on a journey or during battles. In the Kitaab, Kashful Ghummah it is mentioned that during battle the Companions of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would store their Miswaaks in the scabbards of their swords for use at the time of Salaat.
Allamah Sha'rani (R) states in Kashful Ghummah that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
"Whoever spurns or rejects the Miswaak is not of us (Muslims)."
Hadhrat Ibn Mubarak (R) said:
"If the inhabitants of a city spurn and reject the use of the Miswaak, the Ruler should wage battle against them like he would wage war against the renegades or murtad-deen."
(KHAANIYAH)
All the aforegoing Ahadith of our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the statements of the learned jurists of Islam point clearly to the tremendous importance of the Miswaak in Islam. However, despite its elevated status, significance and importance, this noble practice is neglected and generally discarded by present day Muslims. Needless to say, this is one of the examples of the spiritual and worldly decadence that have set into the Muslim Nation.
The revival of the practice of using the Miswaak instead of the various substitutes is of utmost importance to Muslims. In times such as the present age when we are confronted and surrounded by the satanic forces of irreligiosity, materialism, atheism, vice and immorality, it is of greater importance that Muslims strive most ardently to re-instate the practices or the Sunnah of our beloved Nabi it;. And, of these is the Miswaak. Substitutes, e.g. toothpowders, brushes, etc., should only be resorted to in the event of the non-availability of the Miswaak. To revive a "lost" or a forgotten Sunnah of our Nabi it:—a Sunnah which the followers of Islam have murdered—carries a great and mighty Thawaab (Reward). In this regard our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
"He who holds on firmly to my Sunnah at a time when my Ummah are (grovelling) in corruption will receive a reward of a hundred martyrs."
And, indeed the MISWAAK IS A GREAT SUNNAH.
THE SAHABAS (COMPANIONS) AND THE MISWAAK
The Sahabas (R) who were the best and the noblest examples and teachers of the Sunnah of our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) viewed the Miswaak in a very serious light and regarded it as a practice of supreme holiness. Their constant use of the Miswaak, their continuous exhortations to use the Miswaak and their warnings to those who neglect the Miswaak are ample evidence of the nobility and the importance attached to this practice of using the Miswaak.
Ibn Abbas, Ali and Ataa (R) said:
Ataa (R) said:
"Regard the Miswaak as an obligation on you, and do not be neglectful of it. Be constant in using it, for verily, in it lies the Pleasure of Allah, The Merciful, and in it is greater reward for Salaat . . ."
Hassaan Bin Atiyyah (R) said:
"Miswaak is half of Imaan, and Wudhu is half of Imaan."
(SHARHU IHYA-UL-ULOOM)
Abdul Aziz Abu Dawood (R) said:
"Two things of a Muslim are among the best of practices—
(1). Performing Tahajjud Salaat, and
(2). Constancy in the use of the Miswaak."
Continued in next Post...
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~Bud-haal Pakistan, Khush-haal Hukmuraan.~
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