|
submit
articles |
| Oral Hygiene: Islamic
Perspective
Islamic teachings also take care of the cleanliness of one's mouth. We are required to rinse our mouths, as the Prophet (pbuh) said: "When you perform ablutions, rinse your mouth"'. He also said: "Rinse your mouth after drinking milk, because it contains fat”. We are also required to keep our gums clean. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Clean your gums from food and brush your teeth". Similarly, we are strongly encouraged to
brush our teeth. The Prophet (pbuh) also said: "If I were not afraid that it would be too hard for the community, I would have asked Muslims to brush their teeth whenever they prayed". Two other versions of this hadith mention that the Prophet (pbuh) would have commanded us to brush our teeth "every time we performed ablutions". These last two versions clarify what the Prophet (pbuh) means when he recommends brushing one's teeth for every prayer. It is clear that this should be done at the time of performing ablutions, and not as some who use a tooth stick to brush their teeth as they stand to offer prayers. All that happens in this case is that a person removes any dirty particles stuck on or in between the teeth and swallows them. The Prophet's own practice is the best guide to explain his meaning. In a hadith we are told that: "The Prophet (pbuh) used to pray two rakaah late at night, and then go and brush his teeth". Another hadith mentions that the Prophet (pbuh) would brush his teeth before performing ablutions, every time he woke up from sleep, whether at night or during the day. When the Prophet (pbuh) went into his home, the first action he did was to brush his teeth. Moreover, the Prophet (pbuh) used to brush his teeth whenever he rose at night to worship. Indeed, the recommendation to brush our teeth frequently does not exempt anyone who is fasting. In fact, it may be even more encouraged during fasting. Al- Tabarani, a highly renowned scholar of hadith who has his own collection of authentic hadith, quotes Abdurrahman ibn Ghanm asking Mu'az ibn Jabal, the Prophet's companion, "Should I brush my teeth while fasting?' He said, 'Yes'. I asked, ' At what time of day?' He said, 'Morning or late afternoon'. I said, 'But people discourage that and say that the Prophet (pbuh) has said, 'The smell of the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant in God's sight than the smell of musk'. He said, 'Glory be to God! The Prophet (pbuh) has ordered them to brush their teeth, and he would not order them to deliberately let their mouths have a foul odor. Nothing good comes of that. Indeed it is bad".
|