Prophet's Guidance on Purification

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he and a servant of similar age would follow the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he went to relieve himself. They would carry a stick with a pointed end like a spearhead, which he would insert in the ground to hang a covering as a screen for his privacy or as a Sutrah (barrier) for his prayer, and would carry as well a small leather vessel filled with water. When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) finished relieving himself, one of them would hand him the water vessel, and he would cleanse himself with it.

1. A Muslim arranges his cleaning supplies beforehand when relieving himself, to avoid having to move and get dirty afterward.
2. Concealing one's ‘Awrah (private parts) while relieving oneself, so that no one may see it, because looking at ‘Awrah is forbidden. Thus, he (the Prophet) would fix the stick in the ground and drape a covering garment over it as a screen.
3. Teaching Islamic manners to children and raising them upon these values, so they may inherit them.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 42) (152). صحيح مسلم (1/ 227) (271). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لعبد الله البسام (ص40). تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لابن عثيمين (1/ 43). الإفهام في شرح عمدة الأحكام، لابن باز (ص84).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would often use the Siwāk and command the Muslims to use it. This practice was confirmed at certain times, like getting up during the night, as he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would brush and cleanse his mouth with the Siwāk.

1. The Hadīth affirms that using the Siwāk is prescribed under the Shariah after sleeping at night, as sleep entails a change to the odor of the mouth and the Siwāk is a means of cleaning.
2. It emphasizes that using the Siwāk is prescribed under the Shariah whenever the mouth has a foul smell, based on the above meaning.
3. Cleanliness in general is prescribed under the Shariah and it is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and one of the sublime etiquettes.
4. The Siwāk is used for the whole mouth, including the teeth, the gums, and the tongue.
5. The Siwāk is a stick cut from the Arak tree or other trees. It is used to clean the mouth and teeth, freshen the mouth, and remove bad odors.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 58) (245). صحيح مسلم (1/ 220) (255). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، للبسام (ص47). خلاصة الكلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص24).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw in a dream that he was using a tooth-stick and two men came to him, one older than the other. He wanted to give it to the younger one, but it was said to him "give the older one first!". So he gave it to the older one.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة: الأولى 1418هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، محمد علي بن البكري بن علان، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، الطبعة: الرابعة 1425هـ. رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، أبو زكريا محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى 1428هـ. شرح رياض الصالحين، محمد بن صالح العثيمين، دار الوطن، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري، محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري الجعفي، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423هـ.