When should he use the siwaak if he wants to do wudoo’?

Question

Praise be to Allah.

The scholars are agreed that it is mustahabb to use the
siwaak when doing wudoo’, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: “Were it not that it would cause hardship for my
ummah, I would have instructed them to use the siwaak every time they do
wudoo’.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari in a mu‘allaq report. Also narrated
by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh (140) and classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1/109

It was also narrated by Ahmad (9612): “Were it not that it
would cause hardship for my ummah, I would have instructed them to use the
siwaak with every wudoo’.”

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘,
5317.

The scholars differed concerning the time for using the
siwaak when doing wudoo’. Some of them said that it should be before saying
Bismillah for doing wudoo’ and some of them said that it should be when
rinsing the mouth.

Ibn Nujaym (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

There was a difference of opinion concerning the time for
that. In al-Nihaayah and Fath al-Qadeer [which are books of
the Hanafi madhhab] it says that it should be when rinsing the mouth. In
al-Badaa’i‘ and al-Mujtaba it says that it should be before doing
wudoo. But most scholars are of the former view, which is more likely to be
correct, because it makes the mouth cleaner.

End quote from al-Bahr al-Raa’iq, 1/21

Al-Zarkashi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The fact that it is mustahabb to use the siwaak is confirmed
in several places, at the time of prayer and when rinsing the mouth during
wudoo’.

End quote from Sharh al-Zarkashi, 1/30

Al-Shirwaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The view of the author – meaning Ibn Hajar al-Haytami – is in
accordance with the majority, that it should be before saying Bismillah. And
the view we adopt is that it should be after washing the hands and before
rinsing the mouth.

End quote from Hawaashi al-Shirwaani, 1/221

What seems to be the case is that the matter is broad in
scope, because there is no clear evidence from the Sunnah to stipulate any
particular time.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Using the siwaak when doing wudoo’ should be with rinsing the
mouth, because this is the point at which the mouth is purified and the
siwaak is for purifying the mouth, as it is narrated in a saheeh report from
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he said: “The
siwaak is purifying for the mouth and pleasing to the Lord.” So the siwaak
should come with rinsing the mouth, but if you wish you may use the siwaak
after finishing wudoo’ or if you wish you may use it before you start, but
it is better if it is done when rinsing the mouth.

End quote from al-Sharh al-Mukhtasar ‘ala Buloogh
al-Maraam, 2/44

He also said:

The scholars said that it should be used when rinsing the
mouth, because rinsing the mouth is purifying the mouth, so it should be
done at that point. But if that is not possible, then it may be done after
wudoo’. The matter is broad in scope.

End quote from Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, 133/31

The apparent meaning of the words of Shaykh al-Albaani (may
Allah have mercy on him) indicates that he thinks that the siwaak should be
used before saying Bismillah for wudoo’, as he said:

The way it – wudoo’ – is done is: using the siwaak, saying
Bismillah, washing the hands three times – which is Sunnah – rinsing the
mouth, snuffing water into the nose and blowing it out.

End quote from al-Thamar al-Mustataab, p. 9

And Allah knows best.