for the more specific evidence cannot be used to establish the broader ruling. But it may be said: Hudhayfah saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, upon awakening from nighttime sleep, and this does not preclude the same being true upon awakening from daytime sleep, because the underlying reason is the same: the mouth is affected by sleep. Accordingly, as the author states, its use is especially emphasized upon awakening from sleep in general: established by textual evidence in the case of nighttime sleep, and by analogy in the case of daytime sleep.

Know that some scholars, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, refer to clear and manifest analogy as semantic generality (1). This is because generality may be conveyed by wording, and it may also be conveyed by meaning. That is, when we are certain, or reasonably convinced, that the meaning addressed by the text encompasses a case not included in its wording, we say that it is included by semantic generality. And if we say that it is established by clear analogy, the matter is evident, for the Sacred Law does not differentiate between two analogous cases.

“And when the mouth changes, and he uses the tooth-stick crosswise, ...”

His statement, “and when the mouth changes,” means that its use is especially emphasized when the mouth undergoes a change. The evidence is the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “The tooth-stick purifies the mouth” (2). This indicates that whenever the mouth needs cleansing, its use is especially emphasized.

His statement, “and he uses the tooth-stick crosswise,” means crosswise in relation to the teeth and lengthwise in relation to the mouth. Some scholars said that one should use it lengthwise in relation to the teeth, because this is more effective in cleaning.

It may be said that this should be determined by what the situation requires: if the situation calls for using it lengthwise, he should use it lengthwise; and if it calls for using it