Revive A Sunnah - Miswak

               The Benefits Of Miswak              
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Were it not (for the fear) of overburdening my Ummah, I would have ordered them to (brush their teeth with) Siwak at every Salat.(Muslim)

Note: Siwak or Miswak is a natural tooth brush prepared from the roots or branches of various trees and bushes. The most common and beneficial is that of the root of the Salvadora Persica, a wild desert plant known in Arabic as Arak, and in Urdu as Peelu.

‘A’ishah Radiyallahu ‘anha narrates that Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: The Siwak is a means of purifying the mouth and pleasing the Rabb.
(Nasai)

Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said once on a Friday: O Community of Muslims! Allah has made this day an ‘Eid for you, so take a bath and needfully brush your teeth with Siwak (toothstick).
(Tabarani, Majma’uz-Zawaid)

Abu Ayyub Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Four characteristics pertain to the practices of the Prophets (Messengers): Modesty, use of perfume, use of Siwak, and marriage.
(Tirmidhi)

Abu Umamah Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Whenever Jibrail ‘Alaihis salam came to me he stressed the use of Siwak to the extent that I feared (from the excessive use of Siwak) I may injure my gums.
(Musnad Ahmad)

‘A’ishah Radiyallahu ‘anha narrates that whenever Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam slept in the night or day, as he awoke he would brush his teeth with Siwak before performing Wudu.
(Abu Dawud)

‘A’ishah Radiyallahu ‘anha narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Two Rak’at (of Salat offered) with Siwak, are superior in virtue to seventy Rak’at (offered) without Siwak.
(Bazzar, Majma-’uz-Zawaid)

‘Ali Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Verily, when an ‘Abd (the slave of Allah) uses the Siwak, then stands in Salat, an angel stands behind him, listening closely to his recitation. He then draws closer and closer to him, until he places his mouth upon the mouth (of the one reciting the Qur’an). Whatever he recites from the Qur’an, it enters inside the angel; so purify your mouths (with Siwak) for (the recitation of) the Qur’an.
(Musnad, Bazzar. Majma-’uz-Zawaid)

Dua 4 Opening the Fast

Supplication for Opening the Fast

Fasting is a means of attaining taqwa (piety, being conscious of Allaah), and taqwa means doing that which Allaah has enjoined and avoiding that which He has forbidden. 

Fasting is one of the greatest means of helping a person to fulfil the commands of Islam.

 The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) have mentioned some of the reasons why fasting is prescribed, all of which are characteristics of taqwa, but there is nothing wrong with quoting them here, to draw the attention of fasting people to them and make them keen to attain them. 

Among the reasons behind fasting are: 

1 – Fasting is a means that makes us appreciate and give thanks for pleasures. For fasting means giving up eating, drinking and intercourse, which are among the greatest pleasures. By giving them up for a short time, we begin to appreciate their value. Because the blessings of Allaah are not recognized, but when you abstain from them, you begin to recognize them, so this motivates you to be grateful for them.

 2 – Fasting is a means of giving up haraam things, because if a person can give up halaal things in order to please Allaah and for fear of His painful torment, then he will be more likely to refrain from haraam things. So fasting is a means of avoiding the things that Allaah has forbidden. 

3 – Fasting enables us to control our desires, because when a person is full his desires grow, but if he is hungry then his desire becomes weak. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O young men! Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and protecting one’s chastity. Whoever cannot do that, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.” 

4 – Fasting makes us feel compassion and empathy towards the poor, because when the fasting person tastes the pain of hunger for a while, he remembers those who are in this situation all the time, so he will hasten to do acts of kindness to them and show compassion towards them. So fasting is a means of feeling empathy with the poor.

 5 – Fasting humiliates and weakens the Shaytaan; it weakens the effects of his whispers (waswaas) on a person and reduces his sins. That is because the Shaytaan “flows through the son of Adam like blood” as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, but fasting narrows the passages through which the Shaytaan flows, so his influence grows less. 

Shaykh al-Islam said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/246 

Undoubtedly blood is created from food and drink, so when a person eats and drinks, the passages through which the devils flow – which is the blood – become wide. But if a person fasts, the passages through which the devils flow become narrow, so hearts are motivated to do good deeds, and to give up evil deeds. 

6 – The fasting person is training himself to remember that Allaah is always watching, so he gives up the things that he desires even though he is able to take them, because he knows that Allaah can see him. 

7 – Fasting means developing an attitude of asceticism towards this world and its desires, and seeking that which is with Allaah. 

8 – It makes the Muslim get used to doing a great deal of acts of worship, because the fasting person usually does more acts of worship and gets used to that.  

These are some of the reasons why fasting is enjoined. We ask Allaah to help us to achieve them and to worship Him properly. 

And Allaah knows best.