السِّواك مطهرة للفم مرضاة للربِّ

?The Siwak purifies the mouth and it is pleasing to the Lord.? [2]

He sallAllaahu ?alayhi wa sallam also said:

لو لا أن أَشق على أٌمتي لأَمرتهم بالسِّواك مع كل صلاةٍ

?If it were not that it would burden be a burden upon my people, I would have ordered them to use the Siwak before every prayer.? [3]

ِِAs for perfume, likewise, it is permissible for the fasting person at the start of the day and at the end of it, whether the perfume is incense, oil or anything else. But it is not permissible for him to sniff the incense, because incense has particles which can be felt and seen, and if he sniffs it, it will rise up into his nose and then to his stomach, which is why the Prophet sallAllaahu ?alayhi wa sallam said to Laqit bin Sabirah, may Allaah be pleased with him:

بالغ في الاستنشاق إِلا أن تكون صائما

?Exaggerate in sniffing water into the nose (i.e. during ablution) except when you are fasting.? [4]

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[1] Siwak: A twig taken from the roots of the arak tree and used as a toothbrush.

[2] Reported by al-Bukhari in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: The Moist and Dry Siwak for the Fasting Person.

[3] Reported by al-Bukhari in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: The Moist and Dry Siwak for the Fasting Person and by Muslim in the Book of Purification, in the Chapter: The Siwak (252).

[4] Reported by Abu Dawud in the Book of Istinthar (Blowing Water Out of the Nose) (142); by At-Tirmithi in the Book of Purification, in the Chapter: What Has Been Said Regarding Washing Between the Toes (38); by An-Nasa?I in the Book of Purification, in the Chapter: Istinshaq (Sniffing Water Through the Nose) to the highest Degree (87); and by Ibn Majah in the Book of Purification and its Sunan, in the Chapter: Washing Between the Fingers and Toes (448).