1196/1 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Were it not that I do not want to overburden my Ummah – or overburden people – I would command them to use the tooth-stick with every prayer.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
1197/2 - Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) got up at night, he would rub his mouth (meaning his teeth) with the tooth-stick.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1198/3 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “We used to prepare for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) his tooth-stick and the water for making ablution. Then, Allah would awaken him whenever He willed during the night, and he would brush his teeth with the tooth-stick, make ablution, and perform prayer.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1199/4 - Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I have told you repeatedly to use the tooth stick.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
1200/5 - Shurayh ibn Hāni’ reported: I asked ‘Ā’ishah: “What did the Prophet use to start with upon entering his house?” She said: “With the tooth-stick.” [Narrated by Muslim]
1201/6 - Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I entered the Prophet’s place while the tip of the tooth-stick was on his tongue.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim; this is the wording of Muslim]
The preceding Hadīths speak about the merit of using the tooth-stick, the recommended times for doing so, and the manner of using the tooth-stick. They include the following guidance:
1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stressed the merit of using the tooth-stick upon ablution, prayer, Qiyām al-Layl (voluntary night prayer), and entering one’s house, which indicates that using the tooth-stick is a confirmed Sunnah.
2) Islam has perfect guidance, as it calls for purification and cleanliness, including the need to keep one’s mouth and teeth good-smelling, especially when meeting people.
3) In using the tooth-stick, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would rub the teeth and pass the stick over the tip of the tongue in order to achieve the intended cleanliness of the mouth.
4) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) had perfect manners in dealing with his family, as the first thing he would do upon entering the house was to use the tooth-stick, thus removing any possible bad smell.
5) It is permissible to inquire about the conditions and manners of righteous people inside their homes so as to follow their example in goodness and worship.
1202/7 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The tooth-stick cleans the mouth and pleases the Lord.” [Narrated by Al-Nasā’i and by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh with authentic chains of narration]
1) The Legislator wisely recommended the use of the tooth-stick, which cleans the mouth and is thus good for health.
2) Regularly using the tooth-stick wins a person the pleasure of his Lord. How excellent the Shariah is! A small deed, and a big reward!
1203/8 - Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Fitrah consists of five - or five things are part of the Fitrah: circumcision, shaving pubic hair, clipping nails, plucking armpit hair, and cutting the mustache.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
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1204/9 - ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Ten practices are part of the Fitrah: trimming the mustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, sniffing water, clipping the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking the armpit hair, shaving pubic hair, and washing the private parts with water (after answering the call of nature).” One of the narrators said: “I have forgotten the tenth one, except if it was rinsing the mouth.” [Narrated by Muslim]
-- Letting the beard grow: not cutting anything from it.
Fitrah: The instinctive innate disposition in which Allah Almighty has created people, including the inclination to accept and do what is good - unless there are some bad influences that spoil this natural state.
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Sniffing water: It is to let water into the nose to clean it. This is done in ablution and when needed.
1) The practices of Fitrah are varied. They are intended to honor human beings and put them in the best form and condition.
2) Islam calls for purification, beauty, and cleanliness, inwardly and outwardly.
3) The Sunnah regarding “trimming the mustache, clipping the nails, shaving the pubes, and plucking armpit hair” is that we should not leave that for forty days, as related in an authentic Hadīth narrated by Al-Tirmidhi and reported by Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him).
A person would not deviate from the Prophetic guidance or contradict any practice of the Fitrah except because his innate disposition was negatively affected by something, such as growing up in a bad environment. So, the believer should adhere to the practices of the Fitrah, which involve beauty and cleanliness, as well as the reward of following the Sunnah.
1205/10 - Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Trim the mustaches and let the beards grow.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Trim the mustache: cut what goes beyond the lips.
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1) It is the Prophet’s guidance to cut the part of the mustache that goes beyond the lips. It is not permissible to let it grow without trimming it.
2) The beard is adornment for men and a sign of manhood. It is also a sign of full compliance with the Prophet’s example.
3) Shaving the beard detracts from the honor which Allah Almighty has given to men and constitutes aversion from the innate state in which He has created them. It also represents extreme contravention of the Prophet’s guidance and the practice of the senior figures of this Ummah. How would a believer feel comfortable as he runs counter to something adopted by the Prophet and his Companions and the righteous predecessors?
4) We should honor the Prophet’s command to “let the beard grow” and not cut it. Where are some Muslims nowadays from this command which denotes the obligation to let the beard grow?