Brushing One’s Teeth

رَكْعَتَانِ بِالسِّوَاكِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ رَكْعَةً بِغَيْرِ سِوَاكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَوْ لَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ مَعَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Performing two Rak‘at Salah (prayer) with one’s teeth brushed is better than seventy Rak‘at without one’s teeth brushed. The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Were it not to cause hardships to my followers, I would command them to brush their teeth for every Salah (prayer).”’

مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ السِّوَاكُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Brushing one’s teeth is of the traditions of the messengers (of Allah).”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ مَا زَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يُوصِينِي بِالسِّوَاكِ حَتَّى خِفْتُ أَنْ أُحْفِيَ أَوْ أَدْرَدَ[1].

‘The Holy prophet has said, “Jibril continued urging me to brush my teeth, until I became fearful of the falling off of my teeth.’””

لَا تَدَعْهُ فِي كُلِّ ثَلَاثٍ وَ لَوْ أَنْ تُمِرَّهُ مَرَّةً.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not neglect brushing after every third (Salah (prayer)) even though it is a light one (brushing).”’

أَدْنَى السِّوَاكِ أَنْ تَدْلُكَ بِإِصْبَعِكَ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘The least for brushing is using one’s fingers as a tooth brush.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ السِّوَاكِ بَعْدَ الْوُضُوءِ فَقَالَ الِاسْتِيَاكُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَتَوَضَّأَ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ نَسِيَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ قَالَ يَسْتَاكُ ثُمَّ يَتَمَضْمَضُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ. - وَ رُوِيَ‌ أَنَّ السُّنَّةَ فِي السِّوَاكِ فِي وَقْتِ السَّحَرِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about brushing one’s teeth after Wudu’. He (the Imam) said, ‘Brushing is before Wudu’.’ I then asked, ‘What should one do if he forgets and remembers only after Wudu’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘In such case he should brush and then rinse his mouth three times.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا قُمْتَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَاسْتَكْ فَإِنَّ الْمَلَكَ يَأْتِيكَ فَيَضَعُ فَاهُ عَلَى فِيكَ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ حَرْفٍ تَتْلُوهُ وَ تَنْطِقُ بِهِ إِلَّا صَعِدَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَلْيَكُنْ فُوكَ طَيِّبَ الرِّيحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you wake up during the night (for Salah (prayer)) you should brush your teeth; the angel comes and places his mouth over your mouth. Every word you say, he climbs with it to the heaven. Your mouth should have a pleasant smell.’”