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Miswak sellers occupy city markets for Ramazan

By Daud Khattak

PESHAWAR: Considerable increase in sale of miswak, a natural toothbrush, is visible in Peshawar markets with the advent of Ramazan or fasting month.

Vendors, who used to sell food, cigarettes, sun glasses, combs or other day to day items by encroaching the roadsides and footpaths, are mostly replaced by twig-sellers in many areas of the city.

Miswak, also called Siwak, is a twig of a tree called Arak or a “toothbrush tree” with its scientific name as Salvadora persica and is a native of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan. The piece of twig is mostly used as a religious practice in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia by Muslims to clean their teeth as a part of ablution before saying their prayers.

However, research has revealed that miswak, which is also a breath-freshner, also contains a number of chemical compounds that are beneficial to dental health.

In the month of Ramazan, while mosques remain packed with faithful in both rural and urban areas and people start consuming more food, the use of miswak also increases manifold.

Abdul Qahar, resident of Peshawar, says he is selling miswaks in Saddar Bazaar over the previous five years. “In usual days, I use to sell 50 to 75 sticks a day. However, the sale has jumped to 100-120 per day over the previous three days,” said the 31-year-old.

He said miswaks were mostly brought from Lahore, Sindh and some parts of Balochistan and price of a single piece varies depending on its quality. A normal stick is sold for Rs 10, he added.

Besides the roots (Peelu) of Arak tree, miswaks are also made from twigs of trees like neem, olive and acacia. However, those obtained from neem plant, which has medicinal properties, are liked by most of people.

Another miswak seller Jan Mohammad claimed he had sold a bundle of 40 sticks to a tourist three days ago. He said the tourist paid him Rs 20 per stick, almost double the price which they charge from local buyers.

Commenting on benefits of miswak, Dr Mumtaz Islam of the Mumtaz Dental Clinic in Khyber Bazaar told Daily Times that the twig contained organic alkaloids which are good for teeth.

Alkaloids were also used in toothpastes but those were inorganic and had superficial effects only, said the doctor, who claimed that he himself uses a special miswak he brings from Lahore in bulks.

Toothbrush caused sensitivity and bleeding as well as harmed gums, but use of miswak stopped sensitivity and bleeding because of the natural alkaloids, Dr Mumtaz went on saying. He said miswak was naturally sterilised from one side to the other while a toothbrush did not have the same quality.

Maulvi Liaqat Ali, a prayer leader at a mosque, said the length of miswak recommended by Islamic teachings should not be more than nine inches and less than 3.4 to four inches.

He said the stick not only possesses stain removers but also protects teeth and keeps breath fresh besides multiplying reward for worship when a person uses miswak for ablution.

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