Using the Miswaak alone.
Question:
I know that using a miswaak is sunnah, what I would like to know is that if it is proper to just use the Miswaak alone instead of a toothbrush. I know that the toothbrush can clean some hard to reach places the Miskwaak may not be able to and in keeping with proper health and hygiene I know a Muslim should always be clean. Could you shed some light on this for me please.
Answer:
Using of the miswaak is a very strong sunnah of the Prophet (S.A) in general and also at the time when one is performing wuzu for salaah. If one wishes to use the miswaak alone instead of brushing the teeth, then it is proper and there is no harm in doing so.
However seeing that the toothbrush can bring about a thorough cleaning of the teeth and the brushes can clean such areas which the miswaak cannot clean, it will also be proper to use the toothbrush and there is no prohibition in the Shariah for doing so.
In order to achieve the benefits of both, a person can use the toothbrush followed by the miswaak at such timings where he would normally brush the teeth (like the morning time and the time at night before one retires to bed). As for the other times where he may not normally brush his teeth, he can use the miswaak alone like at the times of Zuhr, Asr and Maghrib Salaahs.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan