I have told you repeatedly to use the tooth-stick

Chapter: The Excellence of using Miswak (Tooth-Stick)

Authentic Riyad as-Salihin 1199

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه، قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏

"‏أكثرت عليكم في السواك‏"

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I have told you repeatedly to use the tooth-stick."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 888), An-Nasa’i (No. 6), Ahmad (No. 12004, 13108) and Ad-Darimi (No. 678, 679). Cited in Riyad as-Salihin (No. 1199).

Explanation

Hadīth explanation: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stressed using the tooth-stick. He repeatedly advised his followers to use it at all times, as a recommended action and not an obligation, due to the many and great benefits it involves, the greatest of which is that it is pleasing to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, [as mentioned in the famous authentic Hadīth: “The tooth-stick cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord.”

Explanation in Arabic

معنى الحديث: أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أكثر على أمته في شأن استعمال السواك والمواظبة عليه في جميع الأحوال، استحباباً لا إيجاباً؛ وذلك لما فيه من المنافع والفضائل العظيمة، ومن أجلها وأعظمها أنه مَرْضَاة للرَّب سبحانه وتعالى .

الحث على الالتزام بالتسوك في جميع الأحوال الوارد فيها ندبه.
شفقة النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- على أمته.

Scholars’ grades

Original grading term, without a named scholar: صحيح

Grades of other versions (10)

AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح النسائي (6)
AuthenticAl-Albani صحيح — صحيح الجامع (1200)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'ut إسناده صحيح على شرط البخاري — تخريج صحيح ابن حبان (1066)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'ut إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين — تخريج المسند لشعيب (13598)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'ut إسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين — تخريج المسند لشعيب (12459)
AuthenticAl-Bukhari صحيح — صحيح البخاري (888)
AuthenticIbn al-Qayyim صحيح — زاد المعاد (4/296)
Al-Bazzar لا نعلم رواه عن شعيب، عن أنس إلا عبد الوارث — البحر الزخار (14/30)
AuthenticIbn Hibban أخرجه في صحيحه — صحيح ابن حبان (1066)
Al-Daraqutni تفرد به الحسين بن منصور الرقي عن أبي حذيفة عن الثوري عن يونس بن عبيد عنه — أطراف الغرائب (1/197)

Other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 888

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I have told you repeatedly to use the Siwak. (The Prophet (ﷺ) put emphasis on the use of the Siwak.)

أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 6

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'I have indeed urged you with regard to the Siwak.'"

"‏ قَدْ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

Not graded Musnad Ahmad 12004

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَعَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَبْحَابِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَكْثَرْتُ…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik Arabic only

Not graded Musnad Ahmad 13108

حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ الْحَبْحَابِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik Arabic only

Not graded Sunan ad-Darimi 678

أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَسَّانَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ الْحَبْحَابِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik Arabic only

Not graded Sunan ad-Darimi 679

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ عَنْ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ الْحَبْحَابِ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik Arabic only

Also reported by… (6)

أخبار أصبهان لأبي نعيم (347)لَقَدْ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ
السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (130)أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ
السنن الكبرى للنسائي (5)قَدْ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ
صحيح ابن حبان (1080)أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ
مسند أبي يعلى الموصلي (4113)قَدْ أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ
مصنف ابن أبي شيبة (1752)أَكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي السِّوَاكِ

On the same subject

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Riyad as-Salihin 1196

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Had I not thought it difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswak (tooth-stick) before every Salat." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"‏لولا أن أشق على أمتي - أو على الناس- لأمرتهم بالسواك مع كل صلاة‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 27 other versions

Not graded Bulugh al-Maram 158

The Prophet (ﷺ) delayed (the 'Isha' prayer) one night till a great part of the night passed, then he went out and offered the prayer, and said, "This is the proper time for it; were it not that I would impose a burden on my followers." [Reported by Muslim].

"إِنَّهُ لَوَقْتُهَا لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي"

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 3 other versions

Authentic Mishkat al-Masabih 390

I heard God's messenger say, “Were it not that I would distress my people, I would order them to use the tooth-stick before every prayer, and I would postpone the evening prayer till a third of the night had passed.” He said that Zaid b. Khalid used to attend the prayers in the mosque with his…

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ…

Narrated by Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani + 5 other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 642

I said to Ata': Which time do you deem fit for me to say the 'Isya' prayer, -as an Imam or alone, -that time which is called by people 'Atama? He said: I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying: The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) one night delayed the 'Isya' prayer till the people went to sleep. They woke up and again went…

لَوْلاَ أَنْ يَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ أَنْ يُصَلُّوهَا

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 531

"I said to 'Ata': 'What is the best time you think I should pray Al-'Atamah, either in congregation or on my own?' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delayed Al-'Atamah one night until the people had slept and woken up, then slept and woken up again. Then 'Umar got up and…

"‏ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لأَمَرْتُهُمْ أَنْ لاَ يُصَلُّوهَا إِلاَّ هَكَذَا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 2 other versions

Authentic Sunan an-Nasa'i 532

"The Prophet (ﷺ) delayed 'Isha' one night until part of the night had passed. Then 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, got up and called out: 'The prayer, O Messenger of Allah! The women and children have gone to sleep.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out with water dripping from his head…

"‏ إِنَّهُ الْوَقْتُ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 1 other version

Topics

Natural Cleanliness Practices

I have told you repeatedly to use the tooth-stick

Explanation

Explanation in Arabic

Scholars’ grades

Other versions

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I have told you repeatedly to use the Siwak. (The Prophet (ﷺ) put emphasis on the use of the Siwak.)

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'I have indeed urged you with regard to the Siwak.'"

On the same subject

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Had I not thought it difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Miswak (tooth-stick) before every Salat." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet (ﷺ) delayed (the 'Isha' prayer) one night till a great part of the night passed, then he went out and offered the prayer, and said, "This is the proper time for it; were it not that I would impose a burden on my followers." [Reported by Muslim].

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