QUESTION:

What do the scholars and muftis of the mighty Shari’ah say regarding the following matter, Nowadays instead of the miswak, people use a toothbrush, so will a person get the same reward and benefit?

ANSWER:

الجواب بعون اللك الوهاب،اللهم هدايةالحق و الصواب

So regarding this subject, if a person has a miswak available, but yet still uses a toothbrush, then such an individual will not get the reward for it.

And if a person does not have a miswak and as a result uses a toothbrush then this will fulfil the Sunnah of cleaning the mouth (inka ul fam) so as long as his intention is to act upon the Sunnah. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has said :

الْأَصَابِعُ تَجْرِي مَجْرَى السِّوَاكِ، إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ سِوَاكٌ

When the miswak is not present then the use your fingers are equivalent to it. (المعجم الأوسط رقم الحدیث 6437)

However, the greatest sunnah is the using a wooden stick, will not be fulfilled in this scenario, nor will one attain the benefits of miswak.

So it’s mentioned in Durar-ul-hukkam:

”أَوْ فَقْدِ السِّوَاكِ فَيَحْصُلُ لَهُ ثَوَابُهُ لَا عِنْدَ الْوُجُودِ مَعَ الْقُدْرَةِ،“

Or a person does not have a miswak then such an individual will get the reward for it and a person does have a miswak and ability to use it then such an individual will not get the reward for it .

(درر الحکام شرح غرر الاحکام ، کتاب الطہارۃ،احکام الوضو،ج 1 ص 11 مطبوعہ دار احیاء الكتب العربية)

Allah knows best

Answered by Abu Hanzalah Khalid Tasneem Al-Madani
Translated by Haroon Rauf

Verified by: Mufti Abu Athar Muhammad Azhar Al-Madani

Read the original answer in Urdu here: [Q-ID0482] Do I get reward for using a toothbrush instead of a miswak?

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