Details regarding starting with the right-hand side in the gathering when serving water.

The Shaykh : So, these two narrations reveal the reason why the one serving water started with the Messenger, thereby invalidating the argument that he started with him because he was the elder and the great one of the group. He was undoubtedly so, but the evidence shows that the reason was that the Messenger asked for water. If our brother here asked for water and it was brought to him, it should not be said, "By Allah, start with him because he is the most knowledgeable, the greatest of the group," and so on. Rather, he asked for water, and that was the reality. However, the Messenger was indeed the master of the group, their Prophet, and their Messenger, and so on. But it amazes a person how they cling to what is not a text. We are now ignoring the two narrations that, as it is said today, put the dots on the letters and reveal the reason for starting the serving of water with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Let us return to their famous narration: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came—do we know what happened? Let’s proceed. He drank, and some water remained in the cup, either leftover or residue. He wanted to serve it, so he became the server. Therefore, he would start according to the rule, "And I do not wish to oppose you in what I forbid you." He would start by applying the rule. So, as the server, he would start with the right-hand side, whether the person was old or young. According to their rule, it is with the elder. Here, the younger one was Ibn Abbas, and the elder was Abu Bakr. He did not say, "Please," but rather said: . He said, "No," and gave it to him. In some narrations, and this is one of the subtleties of 'Umar, he was observing what the Messenger of Allah was doing and found that he was giving to the younger one and leaving the elder. The Messenger, of course, was the most intelligent and the sharpest of people, regardless of his connection to revelation. It was as if he answered him: . So it became a Sunnah, but over time, it was abandoned, and they started with the elder of the group.
Here, I say the truth: this is a very important point. This understanding, with the observation of the generality of the text first, and the reason for its occurrence second— the Messenger of Allah asked for water, which is the reason for its occurrence—shows us the ease in applying this rule without that restriction, and we find the difficulty when observing that restriction. There may be a gathering that brings together many dignitaries, scholars, and righteous people, and so on, and the server hesitates about whom to start with. So, I say on this occasion, the server would barely be Ibn Khaldun of his time, knowing the biographies of men and the status of men, to know whether to start with this one or that one. Is this one older? By Allah, he is older in age. But is this one better in knowledge and righteousness? Where is this investigation and this precision? No, my brother, start with the right-hand side, and the problem is solved. Come on, please, in the name of Allah.