If one enters a gathering, does he start with the one on the right or with the eldest?

The questioner : I mean, for example, in the gathering, there is one who is, for example, better than this one.

The Shaykh : If there is no right and left, meaning they are all like in front of you.

The questioner : They all agreed on them.

The Shaykh : We start with the eldest.

The questioner : Yes, yes, yes, yes.

The Shaykh : With the eldest if they are in front of you, but if one is on your right and one is on your left, start with the one on the right.

The questioner : No, but I mean, if the host starts, there is a questioner.

The Shaykh : He starts with the eldest. Yes, indeed. Even if there is someone on his right. If the host is sitting and there is one on his right and one on his left, he starts with the one on the right. But if he is pouring for them, usually he pours for them while standing, so they are all in front of him now. Yes, indeed, if they are in front of him, he starts with the eldest. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw two men and had a miswak in his hand and wanted to give it to one of them, he said to him, "Grow older," he did not say, "Start with the one on the right." So it combines the two texts: if they are sitting, one on his right and the other on his left, he starts with the one on his right. But if they are in front of him, he starts with the eldest. Likewise, some scholars said that if the guest of honor is the head of the people, he starts with him. If, for example, he invited a person and his followers came, it is not from the Shari'ah nor from good manners to invite an emir, for example, and the emir comes and sits at the front of the gathering and his servants come, and then you start with the servants because they are on his right. This is contrary to good manners. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to start with him first before anyone else. Likewise, some scholars excepted the case where someone asks for something, in which case he starts with the one who asked. So if someone says, "Bring me water," and you bring water, start with the one who asked. Give it to the one who asked, and if he gives it to you, start with the eldest. And if he extends it to the one next to him, start with the one on the right.