We have begun with the mention of the miswak, before describing the manner of ablution, because the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) would begin with the miswak before performing ablution when entering his house.

Hazrat Shurayh narrates that I asked Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), "When the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) would enter the house, what would he begin with?" She replied, "With the miswak." In Yusuf's narration, the words are «‏‏‏‏اِذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ» ‏‏‏‏ "When you would enter your house."

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The miswak is a means of cleaning the mouth and attaining the pleasure of the Lord, the Exalted."

Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would wake up at night for Tahajjud, he would thoroughly clean his mouth with a miswak. These are the words of the hadith from Harun bin Ishaq. Abu Musa and Sa'id bin Abdur Rahman did not mention «‏‏‏‏للتھجّد» ‏‏‏‏ "for Tahajjud".

Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The prayer for which the miswak is used is seventy times superior to the prayer for which the miswak is not used." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I have made an exception regarding the authenticity of this hadith because I fear that Muhammad bin Ishaq did not hear this narration from Muhammad bin Muslim, but rather committed tadlis in it.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya, he says: I asked Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Umar, "From whom is it narrated that Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to perform ablution for every prayer, whether he was in a state of purity or impurity (with or without ablution)?" He replied: Asma bint Zaid bin Khattab informed him that Abdullah bin Hanzalah bin Abi Amir narrated to her that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was commanded to perform ablution for every prayer, whether he was in a state of purity or impurity. Then, when this became burdensome for him, he was commanded to use the miswak for every prayer instead. Therefore, Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) thought that he had the strength to perform a new ablution for every prayer, so he would not leave performing a new ablution for every prayer.

If the command to use the miswak had been obligatory, the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) would have commanded the ummah to do so, whether it was difficult for them or not. Whereas the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) has said: "Had I not considered it a hardship for my ummah, I would have commanded them to use it for every prayer." This statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicates that his command to use the miswak is for virtue. And the command is for the one who finds it easy, not for the one who finds it difficult.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "If I did not fear that I would put my Ummah into hardship, I would have commanded them to perform the ‘Isha prayer late and to use the miswak at the time of every prayer." Makhzumi did not mention the emphasis on delaying the ‘Isha prayer.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If I had not feared that I would put hardship upon my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the miswak with every ablution." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that this hadith is narrated in the Muwatta from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) in this way: If it had not been difficult for your Ummah, you (peace and blessings be upon him) would have commanded them to use the miswak at every time of ablution. Imam Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) and Bishr bin Umar have narrated it in the manner of Ruh's narration.

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I came to the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was using the miswak, and the end of the miswak was on his blessed tongue, and he (peace be upon him) was making the sound "Aa Aa."