other types of wood. The term is thus generic, encompassing all kinds of twigs, while the qualifying conditions that follow exclude the remaining types of wood.

His stipulation, “a twig,” excludes using a cloth or one’s fingers as a tooth-stick. According to the view adopted by the author—and it is the established position of the school—this is not a sunnah.

“A soft, cleansing, non-harmful [twig] that does not crumble; not with a finger, …”

His stipulation, “soft,” excludes other hard sticks, for one should not use them as tooth-sticks. They do not provide the benefit of a soft twig and may harm the gums, if they come into contact with them, as well as the enamel layer covering the bony substance of the teeth.

His stipulation, “cleansing,” excludes a twig that has no fibers and is excessively moist, for it does not cleanse because of its abundant moisture and the scarcity of fibers that help remove dirt.

His stipulation, “non-harmful,” is intended to exclude what is harmful, such as sweet basil and anything with a pleasant fragrance, because it affects the odor of the mouth: this pleasant scent turns into a foul odor.

His stipulation, “that does not crumble,” means that it does not shed particles, for if it sheds inside one’s mouth, it fills it with something bothersome.

His stipulation, “not with a finger,” means that using one’s finger as a tooth-stick is not recommended, and the sunnah is not fulfilled by doing so, whether this is done at the time of ablution or otherwise. This is what the unrestricted wording of the author entails.

Some scholars, however—including al-Muwaffaq, the author of al-Muqniʿ, and his nephew, the commentator on al-Muqniʿ—held that one attains the sunnah to the extent that cleansing is achieved. (1)