Answered by Ustaadha Bint Salih
Question:
Does the miswaak have to be a certain length for it to be considered Sunnah? I heard Shaitan will sit at the top if it’s too big, or something to that affect.
Answer:
The Length of a Hand span:
The most apparent opinion is that the miswaaks length being a hand span is at the beginning of its usage (ie when it is new/ not yet been used). So there is no harm if it shortens after that by cutting it to straighten it.
Do we mean the hand span of the user or the average hand span?
The most apparent opinion is the second (ie the average hand span) because it carries the general meaning more than the former”
(Raddul Mukhtar, Volume 1, Page 194)
Above the preferred length of the miswaak is mentioned. However if it is longer or shorter one will still get the reward for acting upon the Sunnah of miswaak.
Regarding shaitan sitting at the top of the miswaak if it is too big, there is no such narration mentioned.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Ustaadha Bint Salih
Checked and Approved Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.