What is better for using the miswak, the right hand or the left?
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The Shaykh : As for the second question, which is: Is the miswak held in the right hand or the left? That is, does one hold the miswak in the right or the left? Some scholars said: It is held in the left hand, prioritizing the side of harm, because the miswak purifies the mouth, as came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5Sahih (Darussalam) They said: And the meaning of this is that the miswak removes harm, so it is done with the left hand, just as cleaning oneself after relieving oneself is done with the left hand, using pebbles to clean oneself is done with the left hand, and blowing the nose is done with the left hand.
And some of them said: Rather, it is with the right hand, because the miswak is a recommended practice (sunnah), and the right hand should be given precedence for a recommended practice, so it is done with the right hand.
And some of them said: One is given a choice. How many opinions did we mention? Note them: three. With the right hand, with the left hand, or one is given a choice. And some of them distinguished and said: If one uses the miswak for the sake of the recommended practice (sunnah), it is with the right hand; and if one uses it to purify the mouth, it is with the left hand. That is, if the use of the miswak is due to a bad smell appearing in the mouth from prolonged silence, for example, then it is done with the left hand. And if it is for the sake of the recommended practice (sunnah), like a man who performed ablution and used the miswak, then went to the mosque and wanted to pray in a short time, then here the miswak is for the prayer, from the aspect of the recommended practice (sunnah), and not from the aspect of purification, so it is done with the right hand. And the matter is broad in this.
This is similar to the disagreement of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) regarding when one stands for prayer: Is it when the mu'adhdhin begins the iqamah, or when he says: "Hayya 'ala al-salah" (Hurry to prayer), or when he says: "Qad qamat al-salah" (The prayer has begun), or when he finishes the iqamah, or when the imam says the takbir? Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The matter is broad with us in this, meaning that if one stands when the mu'adhdhin begins the iqamah, or at "Hurry to prayer," or at "The prayer has begun," or at the end of the iqamah, or at the takbir of ihram, the matter is broad in this. The important thing is that one does not miss the takbir of ihram, so one should not be delayed.1, and after that, the left hand.
Siwak is a means of purification for the mouth and is pleasing to the Lord.
السواك مطهرة للفم مرضاة للربAnd some of them said: Rather, it is with the right hand, because the miswak is a recommended practice (sunnah), and the right hand should be given precedence for a recommended practice, so it is done with the right hand.
And some of them said: One is given a choice. How many opinions did we mention? Note them: three. With the right hand, with the left hand, or one is given a choice. And some of them distinguished and said: If one uses the miswak for the sake of the recommended practice (sunnah), it is with the right hand; and if one uses it to purify the mouth, it is with the left hand. That is, if the use of the miswak is due to a bad smell appearing in the mouth from prolonged silence, for example, then it is done with the left hand. And if it is for the sake of the recommended practice (sunnah), like a man who performed ablution and used the miswak, then went to the mosque and wanted to pray in a short time, then here the miswak is for the prayer, from the aspect of the recommended practice (sunnah), and not from the aspect of purification, so it is done with the right hand. And the matter is broad in this.
This is similar to the disagreement of the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) regarding when one stands for prayer: Is it when the mu'adhdhin begins the iqamah, or when he says: "Hayya 'ala al-salah" (Hurry to prayer), or when he says: "Qad qamat al-salah" (The prayer has begun), or when he finishes the iqamah, or when the imam says the takbir? Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The matter is broad with us in this, meaning that if one stands when the mu'adhdhin begins the iqamah, or at "Hurry to prayer," or at "The prayer has begun," or at the end of the iqamah, or at the takbir of ihram, the matter is broad in this. The important thing is that one does not miss the takbir of ihram, so one should not be delayed.1, and after that, the left hand.