EATING WITH YOUR LEFT HAND* ➖➖➖ *WHERE IS THE SOPHISTICATION?!

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*EATING WITH YOUR LEFT HAND*

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*WHERE IS THE SOPHISTICATION?!*

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Ibn 'Umar reported Allaah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

*_"When any one of you intends to eat (meal), he should eat with his right hand. And when he (intends) to drink he should drink with his right hand, for the Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand."_*

(Sahih Muslim 2020)

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Many amongst the Muslims have taken the Sunnah with leeway. They are more concerned about being "sophisticated."

They see this so-called sophistication as chasing the ways of the western world. 

Had they truly understood, it would have been clear to them that no other way surpasses the religion the Messenger (ﷺ) was sent with in sophistication.

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Umar ibn Abi Salamah reported: *_The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said to me, “Young man, mention the name of Allaah, eat with your right hand, and eat what it is front of you.”_*

(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5061, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2022)

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The evidence number of narrations on the subject is tremendous, and it is established in the sharee'ah that actions of nobility should be started on the right. 

For example, saying the salaam at the end of the prayer, entering the mosque, eating and drinking, wearing shoes and clothes, exiting the toilet, and more.

Starting these actions on the left when one is able to do them on the right is makrooh.

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Salama b. Akwa' reported on the authority of his father that a person ate in the presence of Allaah's Messenger (ﷺ) with his left hand, whereupon he said:

*_Eat with your right hand. He said: I cannot do that, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: May you not be able to do that._*

_It was vanity that prevented him from doing it, and he could not raise it (the right hand) up to his mouth._

(Saheeh Muslim 2021)

The man claimed he was unable to do that out of arrogance and his saying was a lie. So the Prophet (ﷺ) made a du'aa against him so that his saying would come true.

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The scholars have mentioned the reasons why the right hand is preferred for things that are noble: 

1. It is differing from the shaytaan (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 which one removes impurities.

4. It is a sign of hope that Allaah (ﷻ) will make us among those who are on the right hand (ahl al-yameen).

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Whatever we do, and wherever we are, we should strive to obey the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) at all times.

And we must be wary of thinking that a judgement other than that of the Messenger (ﷺ) is better, as this is from the nullifies of one's Islaam.

(The Fourth Nullifier; Explanation of the Nullifiers of One's Islaam of Imaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaikh  A'bdul-A'zeez  bin A'bdillaah Ar-Raajihee)

May Allaah (ﷻ) have Mercy on us and guide us through the straight path.

*آمين يا رب العالمين*