I asked 'Ā'ishah, saying: What did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to start with upon entering his house? She said: With the Siwāk (toothstick)
Chapter: Siwak (tooth-stick)
Authentic
hadith of Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim 253a
بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ يَبْدَأُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ قَالَتْ بِالسِّوَاكِ .
Shurayh ibn Hāni’ reported:
I asked 'Ā'ishah, saying: What did the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) use to start with upon entering his house? She said: With the Siwāk (toothstick).
Reported by Muslim (No. 253a), Abu Dawud (No. 51), An-Nasa’i (No. 8) and Ahmad (No. 23015, 24414).
It was from the practice of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to start with the Siwāk upon entering his house, whether at night or during the day.
Lessons
It is generally permissible to use the Siwāk at all times, but this is even more confirmed on the occasions recommended by the Legislator, including the following: upon entering the house, when praying, when performing ablution, after waking up from sleep, and when having a foul breath.
Showing how keen the Tābi‘is were to ask about the Prophet's states and the ways he adopted to follow his example.
Learning knowledge from those who are qualified and who know more knowledge, as here ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about the state of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) upon entering the house.
It shows how the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) treated his family kindly as he used to clean his mouth upon entering.
Explanation in Arabic
كَانَ مِن هَدِيِ النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَبدأ بالسواك إذا دَخل بيتَه في أيِّ وقتٍ ليلًا أو نهارًا.
مشروعية السواك عامة في جميع الأوقات، ويتأكّد ذلك: في الأوقات التي نَدَبَ الشارع إليها، ومنها: عند دخول البيت، وعند الصلاة، وعند الوضوء، وبعد الاستيقاظ من النوم، وعند تَغَيُّر رائحة الفم.
بيان حرص التابعين على السؤال عن أحوال النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وسُنَنِهِ؛ ليقتدوا به.
أخْذ العلم من أهله وممن هو أَعْرف به، حيث سُئلت عائشة رضي الله عنها عن حال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عند دخول البيت.
حسن معاشرة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لأهله، حيث كان يُطَهِّر فَمَه عند الدخول.
Scholars’ grades
Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).
وعن شريح بن هانئ قال: قلت لعائشة، رضي الله عنها: بأي شيء كان يبدأ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا دخل بيته. قالت: بالسواك. ((رواه مسلم)).
