Miswak
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| Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) |
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| Islamic studies |
Themiswakis ateeth-cleaning twigmade from theSalvadora persicatree. The miswak's properties have been described thus: "Apart from their antibacterial activity which may help control the formation and activity of dental plaque, they can be used effectively as a natural toothbrush for teeth cleaning. Such sticks are effective, inexpensive, common, available, and contain many medical properties".[1]
Themiswakis predominant inMuslim-inhabited areas. It is commonly used in theArabian peninsula,theHorn of Africa,North Africa,parts of theSahel,theIndian subcontinent,andCentral Asia.
Science[edit]
TheWorld Health Organization(WHO) recommended the use of themiswakin 1986, but in 2000, an international consensus report onoral hygieneconcluded that further research was needed to document the effect of themiswak.[2]Some of this further research has been done on a population of 203, and concluded, "that the periodontal status of miswak users in this Sudanese population is better than that of toothbrush users".[3]Yet another comparative study conducted on a sampling of 480 Saudi Arabian adults found that "the level of need for periodontal care in the sample chosen is low when compared with the findings of similar studies undertaken in other countries. The frequent use of the 'Miswak' was associated with a lower need for treatment".[4]
Miswak extract vs. oral disinfectants[edit]
Studies indicate that Salvadora persica extract exhibits low antimicrobial activity compared to other oral disinfectants and anti-plaque agents liketriclosanandchlorhexidine gluconate.[5]
Mouthrinses containing chlorhexidine was with maximum antibacterial activity, while cetylpyridinium chloride mouthrinses were with moderate and miswak extract was with low antibacterial activity.[5]
However, the benefits of triclosan were discounted by theUnited States Food and Drug Administrationin 2016 and its safety is uncertain as a hygiene product ingredient.[6]Chlorhexidine gluconate was also linked to serious allergic reactions, albeit rarely.[7]
Chemical composition[edit]
Salvadorine and benzylisothiocyanate appear to be responsible for the antibacterial activity of Miswak. The plant also contains insolublefluoridein high concentration, calcium,salicylic acid,and someantioxidantsof unclear function.[8]
Other considerations[edit]
A 2016 paper has been published comparing human DNA left on used miswak andtoothbrushes,including the effect of time, to determine whether miswak is a reasonable source of DNA when found at crime scenes. The conclusion was that miswak contains a high enough quantity ofDNA,and retained goodDNA profiling;and when compared totoothbrushes,miswak is a reasonable source of DNA for forensic profiling. In addition, time of storage up to four months had no or little effects on results.[9]
Religious prescriptions[edit]
The use of themiswakis frequently advocated in thehadith(the traditions relating to the life of Muhammad). Situations where themiswakis recommended to be used include before or duringwudu(ablution), on waking up in the morning, before going to the mosque, before entering one's house, before and after going on a journey, on Fridays,[10]before sleeping and after waking up, when experiencing hunger or thirst and before entering any good gathering.[citation needed]
In addition to strengthening thegums,preventingtooth decayand eliminatingtoothaches,themiswakis said to halt further decay that has already set in. Furthermore, it is reputed to create a fragrance in the mouth, eliminatebad breath,improve sensitivity of taste-buds and promote cleaner teeth.[citation needed]
Hadiths concerning the miswak[edit]
It is often mentioned that theIslamic prophetMuhammadrecommended themiswak's use.[11]He is quoted in varioushadithextolling its virtues:[12][13]
Were it not that I might over-burden the Believers I would have ordered them to use Siwak (Miswak) at the time of every Prayer.[14]
Four things are from among the practices of the Prophets: Circumcision, Perfume, Miswak, and Marriage.[14]
Make a regular practice of Miswak for verily it is the purification for the mouth and a means of the pleasure of the Lord.[14]
Use the Miswaak, for verily, it purifies the mouth, and it is a Pleasure for the Lord. Jib-ra-eel (A.S.) exhorted me so much to use the Miswaak that I feared that its use would be decreed obligatory upon me and upon my Ummah. If I did not fear imposing hardship on my Ummah I would have made its use obligatory upon my people. Verily, I use the Miswaak so much that I fear the front part of my mouth being peeled (by constant and abundant brushing with the Miswaak)[15]
Alternative forms[edit]
Modern uses ofarākwood in oral hygiene expands beyond miswak itself. Extracts containing its active components have been added tomouthwashandtoothpaste.[16]There is also a German patent for similar formulations for domesticated animals.[17]
References[edit]
- ^Al lafi T, Ababneh H (1995). "The effect of the extract of the miswak (chewing sticks) used in Jordan and the Middle East on oral bacteria".International Dental Journal.45(3): 218–222.PMID7558361.
- ^"Darout, Ismail Abbas, Undersøkelse av en aktuell eldgammel munnrengjøringsmetode, dr.odont., disputas: 23.06.2003".uib.no(in Norwegian). Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-05.Retrieved2006-04-11.
- ^Darout, Ismail A.; Albandar, Jasim M.; Skaug, Nils (January 2000). "Periodontal status of adult Sudanese habitual users of miswak chewing sticks or toothbrushes".Acta Odontologica Scandinavica.58(1): 25–30.doi:10.1080/000163500429398.PMID10809396.S2CID11199861.
- ^al-Khateeb TL, O'Mullane DM, Whelton H, Sulaiman MI (2003). "Periodontal treatment needs among Saudi Arabian adults and their relationship to the use of the Miswak".Community Dental Health.8(4): 323–328.ISSN0265-539X.PMID1790476.
- ^abAlmas, K; Skaug, N; Ahmad, I. (February 2005). "An in vitro antimicrobial comparison of miswak extract with commercially available non-alcohol mouthrinses".International Journal of Dental Hygiene.3(1): 18–24.doi:10.1111/j.1601-5037.2004.00111.x.PMID16451373.
- ^Commissioner, Office of the."Consumer Updates - 5 Things to Know About Triclosan".fda.gov.Retrieved2017-09-23.
- ^Commissioner, Office of the."Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products - Chlorhexidine Gluconate: Drug Safety Communication - Rare But Serious Allergic Reactions".fda.gov.Retrieved2017-09-23.
- ^Chaurasia, A; Patil, R; Nagar, A (May 2013)."Miswak in oral cavity - An update".Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research.3(2): 98–101.doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2012.09.004.PMC4306988.PMID25737893.
- ^Alfadaly, N., Kassab, A., & Al Hedaithy, F. (2016). Determination of DNA profiling of siwak and toothbrush samples used in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 17(4), 383-387.
- ^"الرئيسة - الحديث - موقع الإسلام".hadith.al-islam.
- ^"Excellence of Miswak in Hadiths"at ziaetaiba.
- ^"Miswak"at sunnah.
- ^"Siwak"at searchtruth.
- ^abcIslamKotob,Muslims and "Science",(Islamic Books), p.30.
- ^Farouk, Muhammed."Miswak/Sewak".islam.tc.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-12-22.Retrieved2006-02-15.
- ^Halawany, HS (April 2012)."A review on miswak (Salvadora persica) and its effect on various aspects of oral health".The Saudi Dental Journal.24(2): 63–9.doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2011.12.004.PMC3723367.PMID23960531.
- ^Bruins, Hans-Kervin; Mehlhorn, Heinz Prof Dr; Mennemann, Horst; Berendsen, Paul; Schmidt, Jürgen Dr (8 July 2004)."Oral and dental care product for domestic animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, comprises comminuted, pulverized or micronized wood".Google Patent.
Further reading[edit]
- Islamic Research on Miswak (Dr. Al Sahli)
- Khan, Tehmeena, Toothbrush (Miswak), in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014.
External links[edit]
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