Question Summary:
How should a Miswak be used

Question Detail:

Assalamualaikum Brothers and Scholars of Islam
 
I have an extremely important question on Miswaak. I have seen hundred, if not thousands of Hadith supporting and encouraging the use of a Miswaak. This being the case, I was expecting there to be sufficient information or instructions for using a Miswaak. I have seen Mufti Ebrahim Desai's fatwa when he has said a Miswaak should be used horizontally. 
 
I have a couple of issues: 
 
1) I have read contradicting opinions on how the Miswaak should be used. Some say horizontally, some say vertically and several say either is fine. Do we have any Hadith which supports exactly how it should be used. I ask because in Dewsbury Markaz I have seen responsible members using the Miswaak vertically, meaning in an up and down motion. As you will know the elders of Dewsbury Markaz take great care in doing Sunnah actions properly, which is why I am.confused.
 
2) On the assumption that we should use a Miswaak horizontally as you have stated in previous fatwas, I still find this to be insufficient in advising exactly how tocdo it. There are essentially many parts to our teeth/gums. In total there are 3 parts. The front of our teeth which we can see, the back of our teeth which we generally can't see and lastly there are the biting surfaces. The front and biting ate quite simple, however I have always struggled cleaning the back of my teeth, especially horizontally.
 
Is there any video on the Sunnah way to use Miswaak available, if not can one be made on a website such as YouTube. In my opinion a lot of people will be using a Miswaak incorrectly. I am certain of this because I see some people using the Miswaak horizontally and others vertically, in which case half would be incorrect.
I won't apologise for the length of this email because it is a great Sunnah and it is of the utmost importance that it is done correctly to benefit in this world and the hereafter. 
 
Jazakallah and please do remember me in your duas.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is advisable to do Miswaak of the teeth horizontally and Miswaak of the tongue vertically. Consider the following Ahadith.
عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَكْثَمَ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَاكُ عَرْضًاك
Translation: Rabiah Bin Aktham narrates The prophet ﷺ would miswak horizontally. (Sunan Al-Kubra (1/ 66)
عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا شَرِبْتُمْ فَاشْرَبُوا مَصًّا، وَإِذَا اسْتَكْتُمْ فَاسْتَاكُوا عَرْضًا»
Translation: Ata Bin Abi Rabah narrates the prophet ﷺ said When you drink water then drink in gulps and when you use the miswak then miswak horizontally. (Marasil of Abu Dawud pg.74)[1]
عن أبي بردة عن أبيه قال مسدد قال أتينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نستحمله فرأيته يستاك على لسانه
Translation: Abu Burdah narrates on the authority of his father (Abu Musa al-Ash'ari), reported (according to the version of Musaddad) : We came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to provide us with a conveyance, and found him using the Miswak on his tongue. (Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith # 49)
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Syed Haneef
Student Darul Iftaa
New York, U.S.A 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.