What is Sunan Abu Dawud 55 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)), narrated by Narrated Hudhaifah:, states: "When the Apostle of Allaah (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) got up during the night (to pray), he cleansed his mouth with the tooth-stick."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 55 in the Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#54

#55

Sunan Abu Dawud

#56

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Sunan Abu Dawud #55

Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، وَحُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بِالسِّوَاكِ ‏.‏

When the Apostle of Allaah (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) got up during the night (to pray), he cleansed his mouth with the tooth-stick.

Narrated by Narrated Hudhaifah:

Context

This hadith describes the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) using a tooth-stick (miswak) to cleanse his mouth when he rose at night for prayer. This act reflects the importance of oral hygiene and preparation for worship, emphasizing the Prophet's attention to cleanliness in all aspects of life.

Modern Application

In modern life, this practice serves as a reminder of the importance of oral hygiene, especially before prayers or significant activities. It encourages individuals to incorporate cleanliness into their daily routines.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Etiquette because it highlights the Prophet's (ﷺ) emphasis on cleanliness and preparation for worship.

Prophetic Etiquette

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ

Al-Maaida (The Table)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.

سُورَةُ قٓ

Qaaf (The letter Qaaf)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ

And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration.

سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةًۭ لَّكَ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًۭا مَّحْمُودًۭا

And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.

سُورَةُ الإِنسَانِ

Al-Insaan (Man)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَٱسْجُدْ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًۭا طَوِيلًا

And during the night prostrate to Him and exalt Him a long [part of the] night.

Common Words

99 total81 unique12 repeated

إلى4x

ٱليل4x

أو3x

ومن3x

ٱلصلوة2x

وأيديكم2x

وإن2x

كنتم2x

من2x

يريد2x

عليكم2x

ٱلفجر2x

يأيها1x

ٱلذين1x

ءامنوا1x

إذا1x

قمتم1x

فٱغسلوا1x

وجوهكم1x

ٱلمرافق1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #55 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Hudhaifah:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #55

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

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