Abstract
Miswak has been used as a tooth cleaning tool for thousands of years throughout the world. Following the introduction of the toothbrush, the usage of miswak is reducing but still exist especially among Muslims. Muslims are still using it as it is part of sunnah and is highly recommended by the Prophet P.B.U.H. Although there are numerous hadiths on the importance of miswak use, there are limited authentic resources on the methods of its usage. The technique of using miswak nowadays might be different from the method recommended in those authentic resources. To investigate the practice of miswak among current users and the miswak practice according to hadiths and Islamic scholars. A cross-sectional descriptive study among miswak users in Sri Petaling, Selangor using purposive sampling. Questionnaires on various aspects of miswak practice as oral hygiene tools were distributed among consented participants. The results were analysed descriptively and compared with miswak practice mentioned in hadiths and scholar’s recommendation. There were 37 subjects participated in the study. Several routines and practices explained in hadiths and Islamic scholars’ recommendations were practised by the participants. The use of miswak prior to ablution and prayer was highly recommended by the Prophet P.B.U.H and was practised by all participants (100%). Half of the participants used miswak upon waking up from sleep (59%) and 76% of them clean their tongue with miswak. All participants use miswak that is not too dry or too wet as suggested by an Islamic scholar. Majority of them (83.8%) cut the miswak stick before they use it and 35% of them soaked the miswak stick before use. Most of the current miswak users are practising the miswak as oral hygiene tool following the guidelines mentioned in hadiths and recommendations by Islamic scholars although there are some parts of miswak practice mentioned in hadiths and scholars’ recommendations were found not to be practised by the subjects and vice versa.
Highlights
Miswak, or chewing stick, is made from the twigs, stems and roots of various plants and has been used as a toothcleaning tool throughout the world, especially in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America (Al Sadhan & Almas, 1999) for thousands of years (More, 2008)
Thirty-six of these hadiths were mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim alone (Nordin, Mohsain, Tamizi, & Abdul Razzak, 2013)
Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. highly recommended the use of miswak on the basis of a hadith narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: ‘But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with miswak on every performance of ablution’ (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 887 & 7240 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith No 589)
Summary
Chewing stick, is made from the twigs, stems and roots of various plants and has been used as a toothcleaning tool throughout the world, especially in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America (Al Sadhan & Almas, 1999) for thousands of years (More, 2008). Muslims are still using miswak because it is part of sunnah and is highly recommended by Prophet Peace Be Upon Him (P.B.U.H.). Many authentic hadiths regarding miswak are mentioned in six authentic books of hadith’s collection (Nordin, Mohsain, Tamizi, & Abdul Razzak, 2012). Thirty-six of these hadiths were mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim alone (Nordin, Mohsain, Tamizi, & Abdul Razzak, 2013). Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. highly recommended the use of miswak on the basis of a hadith narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: ‘But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with miswak on every performance of ablution’ (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No 887 & 7240 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith No 589). Miswak is one of the common sunnah of previous prophets as mentioned in a hadith by At-Tirmizi: ‘Four things are from the sunnah of the prophets: Shy, well perfumed, use miswak and married’ (Alias, Mohamed Ibrahim, & Mokhtar, 2016)
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