The reason why the right handis preferred over the left Praise be to AALLAH. It is part of ALLAH’s complete blessing upon us and the perfection of this great religion, that Islam organizes all aspects of our lives. There is nothing good but it has shown it to us, and there is nothing bad but it has warned us against it. As well as beliefs, acts of worship, interactions with others and morals and manners, that also includes our private affairs in which Islam shows us the way that is befitting to man’s noble status and the way in which ALLAH has honoured him. That includes the way the Muslim eats and drinks, and so on. This is an established principle in sharee’ah: that which has to dowith honour and nobility, such as eating and drinking, shaking hands, touching the Black Stone, etc are all things which it is mustahabb to start on the right oruse the right hand. As for things which are the opposite, such as cleaning oneselfafter using the toilet, it is mustahabb to start on the left or use the left hand. All of that is because the right hand is more noble and honoured. This was stated by al-Nawawi in Sharh Saheeh Muslim. There is a great deal of evidence to support this principle,such as the following: **In al-Saheehayn it is narrated that ‘Umar ibn Salamah (sala ALLAH alayhi wa sallam) said: The Messenger of ALLAH (sala ALLAH alayhi wa sallam) said: “O young boy, say the name of ALLAH and eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearest to you.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5376) and Muslim (2022). **In Sunan Abi Dawood (33) it is narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may ALLAH be pleased with her) said: The right hand of the Messenger of ALLAH (sala ALLAH alayhi wa sallam) was for his purification and food, and his left hand was for using the toilet and anything that was dirty. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. **And Muslim (2020) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may ALLAH be pleased with him) that the Messenger of ALLAH (sala ALLAH alayhi wa sallam) said: “No one among you should eat with his left hand or drink with it, for the shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with it.” This applies if one is able to eatwith the right hand. But if one is unable to do so, there is no sin in that Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim (13/191): The objection to eating and drinking with the left hand applies so long as there is no excuse. If there is an excuse which prevents one from eating and drinking with the right hand because of sickness, injury etc, then it is not makrooh. End quote. To sum up what the scholars have said about the reasons why the right hand is preferred for things that are noble: 1- That is differing from the shaytaan, as in the case of eating and drinking. 2- It is honouring the right hand over the left. 3- It is using proper etiquette with people, so that one does not shake hands with them, take things from them or give things to them with the hand with whichone removes impurities. 4- It is a sign of hope that ALLAH will make us among those who are on the right hand (ahl al- yameen). And ALLAH knows best.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 05:19:32 +0000
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