Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Walaikum assalam,
It is a sunna to use the right hand for noble matters, and the left hand for lowly matters, whenever reasonably possible. This is a general recommendation. It is not sinful or prohibited to use the left hand; doing so without need is, however, blameworthy because it is going against recommended Prophet practice.
Sayyida `A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) related that, “The Messenger of Allah loved using the right in wearing his shoes, combing his hair, purification, and in all his matters.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
She also related that, “The Messenger of Allah’s hand (blessings and peace be upon him) was for his purification and eating, and his left for the toilet and anything lowly.” [Abu Dawud; Nawawi declared it rigorously authentic in his Majmu`]
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) said, “It is from the sunna that you enter the mosque with your right leg, and leave with your left leg. [Hakim]
The hadiths related to this are numerous.
Ibn Daqiq explained that this is a general recommendation from which certain particulars have been excepted, such as entering the washroom, cleaning one’s private parts, leaving the mosque, and the like, for the sunna in these is to use the left. [Sharh Umdat al-Ahkam]
The scholars deduced from the hadiths related to right and left that the general principle is:
1. To prefer the right [hand or foot] for all noble matters, such as:
Wudu
Entering the mosque
Wearing clothes
Praying to the right of the imam if the lines are even [otherwise, evening the lines is superior]
Giving salams to the right first in prayer
Turning one’s head to the right first in the adhan when saying ‘Hayya `ala al-Salah’
Brushing the right side of one’s teeth first
Starting to cut one’s hair from the right side first
Serving food or water to those on one’s right first
Sleeping on one’s right side
Shaking hands
Eating and drinking with one’s right
Giving and taking things
Brushing one’s hair.
2. To prefer the left for all lowly or less desirable matters, such as:
o Going out of the house
o Going out of the mosque
o Entering the toilet
Ref: [Ibn Daqiq Sharh Umdat al-Ahkam; Saffarini, Ghida’ al-Albab (2.91-93); Nawawi, Majmu` (1.408-410); Kasani, Bada’i` al-Sana’i` (1.22); Baji, al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta’ (7.234-235); Khadimi/Barkawi, al-Bariqa fi Sharh al-Tariqa (4.74-77)]
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
MMVIII © Faraz Rabbani and SunniPath.
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