The Sunnah of Dental Hygiene

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ مَعَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Were it not burdensome unto my followers or the people, I would have decreed them to take the siwak (stick used for cleaning the teeth) to every prayer.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. Brushing the teeth was a simple, frequent practise of Rasulullah (ﷺ).

2. He (ﷺ) encouraged his followers to do as such before praying. Cleanliness is obligated upon a Muslim, more so when preparing to pray.

4. Keeping the teeth clean renders myriad benefits, including hygiene of the oral cavity, whitening of the teeth, and elimination of foul odours.

5. Dr. Wahbah al-Zuhaili in ‘Fiqhul Islami wa Adilatuhu’ wrote, “It is a consensus among religious scholars that cleaning the teeth is highly encouraged because of the ordainment of Rasulullah (ﷺ); he (ﷺ) habituated it and enjoined others.”