Sunnats and Aadaab of miswaak – Part 1

1. The method of holding the miswaak is for one to place his thumb and small finger under the miswaak with his remaining fingers on the upper-side of the miswaak.
2. Hold the miswaak with the right hand and commence cleansing the teeth from the right.
3. Make miswaak of the teeth horizontally and of the tongue vertically.

عن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه قال دخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يستاك وهو واضع طرف السواك على لسانه يستن إلى فوق فوصف حماد كأنه يرفع سواكه قال حماد ووصفه لنا غيلان قال كان يستن طولا (مسند أحمد، الرقم: 19737)

Hazrat Abu Moosa (radhiyallahu anhu) reports, “I once came to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) while he was making miswaak and I found him making miswaak of his mubaarak tongue vertically.”

عن عطاء بن أبي رباح رحمه الله قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا شربتم فاشربوا مصا وإذا استكتم فاستاكوا عرضا (التلخيص الحبير 1/96)

Hazrat Ataa bin Abi Rabaah (rahimahullah) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When you drink, then drink in sips (and avoid gulping the drink all at once), and when you make miswaak, then make miswaak (of the teeth) horizontally.”

4. After using the miswaak, wash it and keep it upright.