ABLUTION SECTION · 30 – The use of a siwak by someone who rises at night
55 – Huzayfa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would use a miswak to cleanse his teeth when he got up at night. [71]
*Explanation:* The word "yashushu" in the text of the hadith means that he was rubbing his teeth horizontally with the miswak.
56 – Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
The water for ablution and the miswak of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would be prepared and placed in a specific location. When he got up at night, he would break his ablution, then use the miswak.
57 – Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would invariably use a miswak before performing ablution, whether he slept during the day or at night.
58 – Abdullah bin Abbas said:
I spent one night in the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him). When he awoke from sleep, he came to his water for ablution, took his miswak, and cleaned his teeth with it. Then he recited the verse: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth are signs for those who believe.” (Al-Imran, 190). He finished or neared finishing the surah, then performed ablution, and afterwards went to the place where he would pray, and prayed two rak’ahs. Then he returned to his bed and slept as much as Allah willed. Then he awoke and did exactly what he had done before. Every time he used a miswak and prayed two rak’ahs. Afterwards, he performed the Witr prayer.
Abu Dawud said:
Ibn-i Fudayl narrated this report from Husayn with wording that conveyed the following meaning:
He used a miswak, performed ablution, and recited: (Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth…) until he finished the surah. [72]
*Explanation:* The noble verse mentioned in the hadith is verse 190 of Surah Al-Imran.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would look at everything with reflection, and examine every creation with contemplation.
This hadith is evidence that the Qur’an can be recited from memory without ablution. In fact, this is the ruling in terms of jurisprudence. The Qur'an can be read from memory or by looking at it without ablution.
Furthermore, this hadith explains that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) used a miswak with every ablution and sometimes performed his night prayers in intervals of two rak’ahs.
It is also evidence that he would perform six rak'ahs of night prayer and postpone the Witr prayer to the end of those night prayers.