You brush your teeth twice a day with your $5 Colgate toothbrush. Takes you two minutes. You rinse. You’re done. Just hygiene. Just a routine.
But what if I told you the Prophet ﷺ had a different kind of toothbrush—one that doesn’t just clean your mouth, but multiplies your prayer rewards by 70 times? And you’re not using it.
The Hadith That Should Change Your Morning Routine
Aishah رضي الله عنها reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (887), authenticated as Sahih, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The miswak (siwak) cleanses the mouth and pleases the Lord.”
Not just “cleans the mouth.” Pleases the Lord.
When was the last time your toothbrush pleased Allah ﷻ?
And Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported in Sahih Muslim (252): The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Were it not that it would be difficult on my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the miswak with every wudu (for every prayer).”
Read that again. The Prophet ﷺ wanted to make it obligatory. Five times a day. Before every single prayer. The only reason he didn’t? Because he knew it would be hard for people.
But here’s the question: If the Prophet ﷺ thought it was important enough to almost make it fard, why are you treating it like it’s optional—or worse, irrelevant?
The Reward Multiplication You’re Missing
Aishah رضي الله عنها is reported to have said (narrated by various scholars including Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله in his works):
“The prayer before which the miswak is used is seventy times more excellent than that before which it is not used.”
Seventy times. Not 10%. Not double. Seventy times more reward.
Ibn Abbas, Ali, and Ata رضي الله عنهم stated that the multiplication could reach 99 times or even 400 times, depending on sincerity and circumstances.
Let’s do the math:
Without miswak:
- Fajr = 1x reward
- Dhuhr = 1x reward
- Asr = 1x reward
- Maghrib = 1x reward
- Isha = 1x reward
- Total: 5 prayers’ worth of reward
With miswak:
- Fajr = 70x reward
- Dhuhr = 70x reward
- Asr = 70x reward
- Maghrib = 70x reward
- Isha = 70x reward
- Total: 350 prayers’ worth of reward
You’re praying 5 times and getting rewards as if you prayed 350 times. From a stick. That costs $2. That takes 30 seconds to use.
And you’re not using it. Why?
What the Prophet ﷺ Actually Did
This wasn’t theory for the Prophet ﷺ. This was his daily practice.
Aishah رضي الله عنها reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (246):
“Whenever the Prophet ﷺ got up at night (for Tahajjud), he used to clean his mouth with miswak.”
Middle of the night. Alone. Nobody watching. First thing he does? Miswak.
Aishah رضي الله عنها also reported in Sahih Muslim (489):
“When the Prophet ﷺ entered his house, the first thing he did was use the miswak.”
Walks through the door. Before greeting anyone. Before resting. Before anything. Miswak.
Amir ibn Rabi’ah رضي الله عنه reported (mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari as a Mu’allaq narration):
“I saw the Prophet ﷺ using the miswak while fasting so often that I am not able to count how many times.”
While fasting. Multiple times. So frequently the Companion couldn’t even count.
The Prophet ﷺ didn’t use miswak once a day as a token gesture. He used it constantly. Before prayer. After waking. Before entering his home. While fasting. After meals. It was woven into his life.
You? You might use your toothbrush twice if you remember.
The Benefits Scholars Documented
Classical Islamic scholars didn’t just repeat hadith—they documented the observable benefits they witnessed in those who followed the Sunnah of miswak.
Imam Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله stated in “Medicine of the Prophet”:
“Miswak strengthens the gums, prevents tooth decay, eliminates bad breath, clears phlegm, improves the eyesight, strengthens memory, helps digestion, increases eloquence in speech, and encourages the recitation of Quran and dhikr.”
Allama Tahtawi رحمه الله wrote in his commentary:
“Use of miswak strengthens memory and eyesight, cures headaches, relieves veins in the head, eliminates sputum, improves digestion, increases brain power, delays aging, and strengthens the back.”
Sadr al-Shariah Allama Amjad Ali Al-Aazami رحمه الله stated:
“A person who is habitual of making miswak will be blessed with the opportunity of reciting the Kalimah at the time of death.”
Read that last one again. Dying with the Shahadah on your tongue—one of the greatest signs of a good ending—connected to the habit of using miswak.
Modern Science Catches Up 1400 Years Later
The Prophet ﷺ recommended miswak 1400 years ago. Modern science finally figured out why in the last few decades.
Scientific studies have confirmed miswak (Salvadora persica) contains:
- Silica – natural abrasive that polishes teeth
- Sodium bicarbonate – whitens teeth naturally
- Tannins – anti-bacterial and astringent
- Resin – forms protective layer on enamel
- Alkaloids – mild pain relief and anti-bacterial
- Vitamin C – strengthens gums and prevents bleeding
- Fluoride – prevents cavities naturally
- Trimethylamine – prevents dental plaque
Studies published in medical journals show miswak:
- Reduces plaque more effectively than regular toothbrushes
- Fights bacteria that cause cavities
- Strengthens gums and prevents recession
- Increases salivary pH (which protects against decay)
- Has natural antiseptic properties
The WHO (World Health Organization) officially recommended miswak for oral hygiene in 1984.
The Prophet ﷺ knew all this without laboratories, microscopes, or PhD researchers. Because Allah ﷻ taught him.
Why You’re Not Using It (And Why Those Excuses Don’t Work)
Let me guess your excuses:
“It’s inconvenient. I’d have to carry it around.”
The Prophet ﷺ carried it constantly. Even while traveling. Even during battles. It was literally in his hand so often that Companions mentioned seeing him use it “uncountable times.” But you can’t carry a 6-inch stick because it’s “inconvenient”?
“It looks weird.”
You’ll wear hijab/keep a beard publicly but you won’t use miswak because it “looks weird”? The Prophet ﷺ used it in front of his Companions, his wives, his guests. He wasn’t embarrassed by the Sunnah. Why are you?
“I already brush my teeth with toothpaste.”
Good. That’s hygiene. But miswak isn’t just hygiene—it’s worship. Your Colgate toothbrush doesn’t multiply your prayer rewards. Your Crest toothbrush doesn’t please Allah ﷻ. Miswak does both.
“I don’t know where to get one.”
Amazon. Islamic bookstores. Any Masjid gift shop. They cost $2-5. You spend more on a coffee. Stop pretending it’s inaccessible.
“I’ll start eventually.”
When? Tomorrow? Next Ramadan? After Hajj? You’ve been saying “eventually” for how long now? The Prophet ﷺ said “Were it not difficult, I would have commanded it before every prayer.” Every. Single. Prayer. And you can’t even start with one?
How to Use Miswak (The Sunnah Way)
It’s not complicated. The Prophet ﷺ made it simple.
1. Hold it in your right hand (The Prophet ﷺ preferred using his right hand for good things)
2. Brush horizontally (not up and down like modern toothbrushes)
3. Start on the right side of your mouth, then move to the left
4. Brush gently (don’t scrub aggressively—miswak’s natural compounds do the work)
5. Peel or cut the tip when the bristles wear down (every few days)
When to use it (Sunnah times):
- Before every wudu (before every prayer)
- When waking up
- When entering your home
- Before sleeping
- After meals
- Before reciting Quran
- When fasting (yes, it’s allowed—the Prophet ﷺ used it while fasting)
You don’t have to use it 20 times a day immediately. Start with once—before Fajr. Just once. Get the 70x reward for that one prayer. Then add more.
The Opportunity You’re Wasting
Let’s be brutally honest: You’re leaving massive rewards on the table every single day.
Every prayer you make without miswak is a prayer at 1x reward when it could’ve been 70x-400x.
Every month you delay is dozens of missed opportunities.
Every year you ignore this Sunnah is potentially thousands of prayers’ worth of reward you’ll never get back.
The Day of Judgment—when you’re desperate for one more good deed, one more hasanah—you’ll remember this article. You’ll remember that you knew about miswak. You knew the hadith. You knew the rewards.
And you did nothing.
Or you could start today. Right now. Order a miswak. Use it before your next prayer. And watch as a $2 stick transforms your entire spiritual life.
The Prophet ﷺ Wanted to Make It Fard
That sentence should haunt you.
The Prophet ﷺ—the mercy to mankind, the one who made things easy for us—wanted to make miswak before every prayer obligatory. Not recommended. Not Sunnah. Fard.
He didn’t, only out of mercy, knowing it would be difficult for some.
But the fact that he even considered making it obligatory tells you how important it is. How valuable. How massive the benefit.
And you’re treating it like it’s optional. Like it doesn’t matter. Like it’s “just a stick.”
It’s not just a stick. It’s a Sunnah the Prophet ﷺ practiced daily. It’s a means to please Allah ﷻ. It’s a multiplication of every prayer you make.
It’s the difference between praying 5 times a day and getting rewards as if you prayed 350 times—or more.
Start today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.
Buy a miswak. Use it before your next prayer. And never let a prayer pass again without capturing that 70x reward the Prophet ﷺ wanted you to have.
Because one day, you’ll wish you had. Make sure that day isn’t Judgment Day.
Disclaimer: This article presents authentic hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and scholarly reports about the miswak (siwak) benefits. The 70x reward multiplication is attributed to Aishah رضي الله عنها and reported by various classical scholars including Ibn Qayyim. Readers are advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars for detailed guidance.