What is the ruling on using the miswak? And with which hand is it used?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on using the miswak? And with which hand is it used?
The Shaykh : As for the miswak, it is a recommended practice (sunnah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged in many hadiths, as is well known, until he saidSunan Abi Dawud 47Sahih (Al-Albani) So there is great virtue in it. As for which hand to use the miswak with, the right or the left, we have no explicit text that resolves the well-known disagreement among the jurists. Consequently, we are unable to specify, without a text that settles the dispute, whether it is with the right hand or the left. This is because each of the two opinions has its basis. Some say it is with the right hand, and some say it is with the left. Each opinion has its perspective. The one who says it is with the right hand is following the principle of preferring the right in everything. The one who says it is with the left is considering it a matter of cleaning, so he classifies it with wiping after urination and cleaning oneself after defecation. And as Allah the Exalted said [Al-Baqarah 2:148] So if one is convinced in his mind that this is a matter of preferring the right, he should use the right hand. And if he is convinced in his mind that it is a matter of cleaning...
The questioner : Is it not, our Shaykh, a matter of cleaning...?
The Shaykh : ...Cleaning the mouth, is it ugly or good?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ...Regarding the miswak, there is no explicit text.
The questioner : No, general cleaning...
The Shaykh : General... Regarding cleaning oneself after relieving oneself, is it not cleaning?
The questioner : Cleaning.
The Shaykh : Okay... with the right hand or the left hand? With the left hand, the matter is delicate... Does this fall under this category or under the general principle? There is no text that resolves the dispute, so the matter is left to each person according to what his soul is at peace with and what brings him comfort.
The Shaykh : As for the miswak, it is a recommended practice (sunnah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged in many hadiths, as is well known, until he said
Were it not hard on my ummah, I would order them to use the tooth-stick at the time of every prayer
لولا أن أشق على أمّتي لأمرتهم بالسّواك عند كل صلاة - أو- عند كل وضوءFor each [religious following] is a direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good.
ولكل وجهة هو مولّيها فاستبقوا الخيراتThe questioner : Is it not, our Shaykh, a matter of cleaning...?
The Shaykh : ...Cleaning the mouth, is it ugly or good?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ...Regarding the miswak, there is no explicit text.
The questioner : No, general cleaning...
The Shaykh : General... Regarding cleaning oneself after relieving oneself, is it not cleaning?
The questioner : Cleaning.
The Shaykh : Okay... with the right hand or the left hand? With the left hand, the matter is delicate... Does this fall under this category or under the general principle? There is no text that resolves the dispute, so the matter is left to each person according to what his soul is at peace with and what brings him comfort.