Left Handed?

Asalaam Wa Alykum Wa Rahmat Allah Hi Wa Barakat

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Arsalan Ali asked me to look into what Islam says about eating, drinking and working with left hand. Hopefully you all will benefit from the question he has asked me and make du’a for him with me Inshaallah. (The name of the questionair is mentioned by his permission)   Doing good is a habit and doing evil is a habit. Man is always either making progress or falling behind. When a person gets used to doing something, he becomes very fond of it and loves it, and dislikes anything else. Then he thinks that the thing he is not used to is not possible, but this way of thinking is not right and it goes against both the laws of Islam and the facts of reality. Using left hand to eat and drink is not permissible according to the following hadeeths:   When a man ate with his left hand in his presence, the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Eat with your right hand.” He said, “I cannot.” He said, “May you never be able to!” Nothing was stopping him but his stubborn arrogance, and he never raised his right hand to his mouth after that. (Muslim, 3776). According to a report narrated by al-Daarimi, “his right hand never reached his mouth”. This man suffered paralysis because of the du’a of the Prophet (PBUH).   Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has also said: “When any one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, because the Shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.” (Muslim, 3764).  

The hadeeth indicates that a person should avoid doing actions that resemble the actions of the Shaytaan.   Muslim (2020) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) 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.”     Some still say that eating and drinking with the right hand is just a Sunnah and not compulsory. Beware, for Allah has warned us against disobeying the commands of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), as He says:    “And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah __ legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them” [al-Noor 24:63--- interpretation of the meaning]    In Sunan Abi Dawood (33) it is narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (RAA) said: The right hand of the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) 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) 

How can a person use that which is used for removing dirt and impurities for putting food in his mouth?   However, Allah says in the Qur'an:   "Allah does not place a burden upon a soul beyond what it can bear" [al-Baqarah 2:286---interpretation of the meaning]   So the ruling of eating and drinking with right hand has to be followed so long as there is no excuse; if a person has an excuse for not eating and drinking with his right hand, such as sickness or injury etc., then there is nothing wrong with his eating with his left hand.   But it is not a legitimate excuse for someone who has no injury to the right hand to merely claims that he has tired to eat with his right hand but finds it difficult to do so. A Muslim is obligated to put the teachings of Islam into practice and not be neglectful of them.   In matters requiring dexterity there is no harm in a left hander using their left hand. It is alright for a person to use the left hand for other activities like physical work, cleaning, cooking, writing, and the like.   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 honoring 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 which one 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).     May Allah guide us and give us strength to follow Islam correctly and sincerely---Ameen!   If what I think of it is correct then it is a favor from Allah, and if it is wrong, then it is part of my limitation. Allah, May He be glorified knows best and it is He who inspires all that is right. There maybe some errors in interpreting a hadith/Quranic verse so please forgive me and reply so that I can rectify it. Suggestions welcomed. If you'd like me to talk about a particular topic of interest, I’ll be glad to do so. Hope it really helps you all and try to remember me in your prayers: D.     References:

 

Abo Muhammed Samir Faid (Imam and answer questions about Islam in Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Qatar)

 





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Wa-alykum Assalaam Wa Rahmat Allah Hi Wa Barakat!