Did it come from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used the miswak when standing for prayer, and what is your opinion of those who say that using the miswak at this time may cause bleeding?

The questioner : May Allah reward the honorableThe Shaykh : I saw you using the miswak when standing for prayer. Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) command this specific action at this particular time? And what is your opinion of those who say that using the miswak at this time may cause bleeding? I ask that you elaborate on this issue.

The Shaykh : Using the miswak at prayer is a recommended practice (sunnah), as the scholars have stated, citing the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): There is no doubt that using the miswak close to prayer makes the mouth purer, because if you use the miswak, for example, before entering the mosque, the mouth may change between your entering the mosque and the prayer. However, using the miswak at prayer makes the mouth purer. As for the statement that it may cause bleeding, this is true. Some people have diseased gums, so if they use the miswak, blood comes out. Such a person should not use the miswak if he fears that blood will come out and he cannot have a handkerchief with him to stop the bleeding. We tell such a person to use the miswak during the ablution (wudu') so that the bleeding stops, and when the prayer time arrives, he should not use the miswak.