Were it not that I would cause difficulty for my followers, I would command them to use the tooth-stick with every prayer

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «لَوْلا أنْ أَشُقِّ على أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهم بالسِّواكِ مع كلِّ وُضُوء».

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Were it not that I would cause difficulty for my followers, I would command them to use the tooth-stick with every prayer.”

An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Ahmad - Maalik · hadeethenc:8374

Grading: Authentic hadith (as published by the source; the grader is not named)

Explanation from the source

In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) makes clear that were it not for his fear to cause difficulty and hardship for his followers, he would command and obligate them to use the tooth-stick with every ablution. But, out of his mercy and compassion towards them, he did not do that. Instead of prescribing it as an obligation, he made it a recommended act of Sunnah, whose performance brings reward, yet there is no punishment for failure to do it.

Topics: Ablution

Source: HadeethEnc.com, published by HadeethEnc.com. Version API snapshot retrieved 2026-10-11 (the source publishes no version number) (retrieved 2026-10-11). Published by HadeethEnc.com. Shown unmodified; not reviewed by a scholar.