Miswak the Miracle Brush

 Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that  Prophet (Peace be Upon him) said, “Were  it not that  I might overburden believers,  I would  have ordered them to use the  Miswak at  every prayer”
(Imam Muslim, Vol. 1).

I can’t quite remember my first  encounter with the Miswak. It must  have  been circa the same time as the  debut of  the original Mighty Morphin Power  Rangers. I have a vague recollection of strutting across the playground with a Miswak sticking out of my mouth being admired by all my fellow third graders. I believe I tried to convince them I chewed steel as well. I have a stronger memory of constantly ducking underneath my desk during class and spitting what seemed like an endless amount of fiber.

In any case, perhaps one early morning you were in your uncle’s bathroom rummaging through the medicine cabinet with little/no light, trying to find toothpaste (by the way that’s pretty nasty, please use your own toothpaste). As you move the 5th bottle of Tiger Balm something solid hits the sink with a twang of a dropped pencil. Flipping the light switch you find yourself staring at a piece of………wood? It’s one of those scenes during life, when you know exactly what just happened, but somehow it just doesn’t seem to add up.

Then again maybe I’m the only one who has family that seems bent on collecting a globally diverse array of foreign labeled toothpaste tubes.

No worries though! Let’s try to understand exactly what this powerful dental hygiene tool is, and why everyone has an uncle who has one stashed in the depths of their bathroom cabinets.
Okay-lets just try to focus on the first one.

Background

The Miswak is a natural toothbrush made from the twigs of the Salvadora persica. The Miswak is also referred to as Siwak, Neem, African Chewing Stick, and the non technical, ‘piece of wood.’ Oh, and its not only found in the those countries.

American Indians used fresh bark from the prickly ash tree to clean their teeth. The sap from this tree kills bacteria. Other tree types that are used are the arak tree, peelo tree, olive, walnut, and other trees with bitter roots.

Beginning

 Middle

 

End (s)
(pun intended)

 

 

 

Application 

Aisha (RA) said:’The Prophet (Peace be Upon him) said, ‘It ( Miswak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah’s pleasures.’ (Source:Sahih Bukhari)

 Advantages
- Instant reward in this world, and the hereafter InshaAllah!
- does not require: water or sink
- easily carried
- disposable
- biodegradable
- everyone’s uncle has one (trust me)

HOW TO USE THE MISWAK

STEP ONE:
Simply scrape off about half an inch from the tip.

STEP TWO:
Then chew the tip gently until brush-like

STEP THREE:
Start brushing horizontally.

STEP FOUR:
After brushing wash the tip.

STEP FIVE:
Store miswak in packet provided so it doesn’t become dirty.

STEP SIX:
Before going sleep store the miswak in a glass filled with water and put the part of the miswak that was used and leave it overnight to be soaked.

STEP SEVEN:

In the morning cut the bristles and start from step one again, this ensures u have clean bristles every day so that it is more hygienic and effective.
[Source: Collected & Edited by MiracleBrush.com Team]

 

Tips
- a Miswak should be one hand span in length
- It shouldn’t be too brittle, or too soft
- If it becomes dry, soak in rose water to ensure the end is soft
- wash after every use
- the best way to shape it is using a tool that isn’t too sharp (kitchen knife) or too dull (your little sisters scissors) but rather something in between like an unused garden tool cutter

my personal recommendation:

 

Food for Thought

Miswak. It is the ultimate toothbrush. Remember that one time you were talking to that person who had horrible bad breath? Remember how you kept trying to avoid having them talk by being quiet, and how that only made them talk more? Bad breath is not only embarrassing, its not in accordance with our Deen.

How much time and effort would you put into impressing a potential spouse? How about getting ready for a job interview? You definitely would not plan on preparing for similar events without taking care of your oral hygiene. Try and see if you can take care of your oral hygiene every time you step out of the house, and especially when you come back into house. Your family deserves the effort. Finally, imagine getting ready for prayer and facing our Creator, Allah Subhanhau wa tala. The Prophet (Peace be Upon him) himself, used to use the miswak before every prayer (Sahih Muslim, Vol.1). If you can’t snag a Miswak, at least spend some time cleaning your mouth beforehand. Notice that doesn’t mean during Salaah (gross, man). Oh, and everyone can see and smell through you, if you pop a piece of gum or an altoid, it is not the same.

Lets try our best to follow the Sunnah. Perhaps next time we open our mouth to tell someone cleanliness is half our religion we’ll actually be following it, inshaAllah. Our Prophet (Peace be Upon him) expected us to do so.

Abu Ayyub narrates that Rasulullah (Peace be Upon him) said:’Four things are amongst the practices of the Ambiyaa—circumcision, application of perfume, Miswaak and marriage’. (Source:Ahmad and Tirmidhi)

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Miswak is also contributing in the fight against desertification. Desertification? No, not the one involving a
pint of Blue Bell and  one spoon. See effects of Salvadora Persica “Miswak tree” on stopping deserts and fixing the soil, thereby affecting our environment and global climate.

translation: It can stop the onset of an approaching desert. Whoa.
And here you thought it couldn’t handle your mouth’s bacteria ? Tsk tsk…

‘Piece of wood,’ indeed!

sources
-miraclebrush.com a wonderful resource dedicated to implementing this sunnah, check it out!
-wikipedia search: ‘miswak‘
- watch out, its Peelu USA!

 

 

 

 

 

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