Can I use a miswaak while fasting?
Yes, you can use a miswaak while fasting. In fact, it is encouraged. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, One of the best characteristics of a fasting person is the use of the miswak (tooth-stick).
Sunan Ibn Majah 8:40 Additionally, a narration in Al-Kafi confirms this practice, where it states, Yes, he may clean his teeth with it any time of the day he wishes.
Al-Kafi 2:176 Thus, using a miswaak does not break the fast and is considered beneficial for maintaining oral hygiene.
Sources
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Sunan Ibn Majah 8:40
Sunan Ibn Majah · Book 8, Hadith 40 · Narrated by Aisha
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "One of the best characteristics of a fasting person is the use of the miswak (tooth-stick)."
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Al-Kafi 2:176
Al-Kafi · Book 2, Hadith 176
The Sunnah is twofold: a Sunnah in obligatory matters, taking which is guidance and leaving it is misguidance; and a Sunnah in non-obligatory matters, taking which is a virtue and leaving it is not a sin. — OR — Three people whose prayers are answered: the pilgrim, so look how you fail to follow him; the fighter in the way of Allah, so look how you fail to follow him; and the sick person—do not anger or distress him. — OR — I asked about the use of a tooth-cleaning twig (siwak) by the fasting person. He said, 'Yes, he may clean his teeth with it any time of the day he wishes.' — OR — Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon him) said to me: God Almighty has allies with the rulers whom He uses to protect His allies. — OR — Regarding a woman divorced who is advanced in age and menstruated once, then her bleeding stopped, he said: She counts the one period and two future months because she has despaired of menstruation. — OR — A woman inherits from the bricks but does not inherit from the quarter share. I asked, 'How does she inherit from the branch but not from the root?' He said to me, 'She has no lineage from them whereby to inherit; rather, she is an outsider among them and only inherits from the branch, not from the root, and no outsider comes among them because of her.'
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