Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

Ahsan ILAH, M. Saad A. KHAN and Q. Hasan LARI
f) Miswak sharpens the memory [26,28-29] and strengthens
the eyesight[25-28].
g) It cures headaches/migraine [25-26,28] and toothache
[25] and calms brain [26].
h) Miswak creates Noor (glossiness) on the face of the one
who continually uses it [26].
i) It helps teeth to glow [25-26,28].
j) Miswak assists in digestion [26,28].
k) It eliminates balgham (phlegm) [25,29]
l) Use of Miswak clears the voice [26,28].
m) It delays senescence [25,28].
n) It cures body ache and back ache and upholds general
health [28].
o) The greatest benefit of using Miswak is gaining the pleasure
of Allah (SWT) [26].
48
Timings of Miswak
1. After entering in home [30].
2. For the recitation of the Qur’an [25,31].
3. During Wazoo (ablution) and before Salat (prayer)
[25].
4. When the mouth emits bad odour [25,32].
5. Before joining any good gathering [25].
6. At the time of hunger [31].
7. Before taking meal [31,33].
8. After eating food [33] especially which produces bad
breath [29].
9. During journey [33].
10. When teeth became yellowish [25,32].
11. Before sleeping [33].
12. Upon awakening [25,32-33].
13. In morning and evening [28].
Types of Miswak
Twigs or root of following are best to use as a Miswak.
1) Peelu (Salvadora persica) [7,13,23,28-29,32-33]
2) Zaitoon/Olive (Olea europaea) [25,33]
3) Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) [33]
4) Babool (Acacia arabica) [7,12,34]
5) Neem (Azadirachta indica) [7,12,31,34]
6) Khulanjan (Alpinia galangal) [13,34]
7) Walnut tree (Juglans regia) [34-35]
Oral Hygiene and Miswak: in the Light of
Graeco- Islamic Medicine
8) Chirchita / rough chaff (Achyranthes aspera) [36]
9) Any wood having Qabiz (constipating astringent) and
slight bitter taste [13-14,29,32-33].
Few important norms for teeth/oral cavity
1. After drinking milk, teeth should be washed up by lukewarm
water [13].
2. Sweet things are unsafe for the teeth [12].
3. For the safety of teeth, neither be soft matter like milkcake
chewed and any hard matters nor be crushed by
them [13].
4. Drinking of cold water after meal especially sweets is
destructive for the teeth [12-13].
5. Frequent vomiting is also harmful for the teeth [13].
6. Clean the tongue thoroughly while brushing the teeth
or using the Miswak [7].
7. Gutkha, cigarettes and tobacco chewing are highly deleterious
to the oral cavity [34].
8. Gargling with honey and vinegar strengthens gums
and teeth, prevents swelling of oral cavity and provides
shining to the teeth by dissolving the plaque around the
teeth. Only honey may be used as a tooth paste [13,34-
36].
9. Alum, honey and turmeric give fruitful result in oral
cavity/teeth disorders [14,34].
10. Binding of unfastened tooth with healthy teeth provides
the strength to the slack tooth [14].
11. Frequent gargling and rinsing of mouth during ablution
for Salat (prayer) is a natural way to keep the oral cavity
clean.
Conclusion
Oral cavity is the mirror, which reflects general health.
From all that have been discussed above, one can understand
the importance of oral hygiene and can implement
easily the basic norms in the light of the Graeco-Islamic
Medicine.
References
1. Masarrat Zamani: Ilme Khanadari. Educational Book House, Muslim
University Market, Aligarh; 2009:239.
2. Tabri A. H. A. M: Mualijate Buqratia. Vol. 1. CCRUM, Dept of AY-
USH, Ministry of H & FW. Govt. of India, New Delhi; 1995: 10.
3. WHO. The Oral Health Report 2003, WHO/NMH/NPH/ORH/03.2;
17.
ISHIM 2011-2012