Chapter: Preferring the right when entering the mosque and other places. Ibn 'Umar would begin with his right foot, and when he would exit, he would begin with his left foot.

The Shaykh : And his statement, "Chapter: Preferring the right when entering the mosque and other places," the "other places" includes what is lower than what was mentioned, what is equal to it, and what is higher. This is because when a person moves from one place to another, the place he is leaving is either higher, lower, or equal to the place he is entering. If the place he is leaving is higher, let him begin with the left foot. If the place he is leaving is higher, here—

The questioner : ...

The Shaykh : —he begins with the left foot. If the place he is entering is higher than the place he is leaving, let him begin with the left foot. An example is exiting the mosque to the market. If it is the opposite, let him begin with the right, meaning if he enters from the lower to the higher, let him begin with what? The right, like entering the mosque from the market. If they are equal, the apparent meaning of al-Bukhari's words (may Allah have mercy on him) is that he prefers the right, meaning he intentionally prefers the right. An example is entering from one house to another or something similar. He considered that one should prefer the right because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) . One might say: This requires specific evidence. This requires specific evidence that a person intentionally and deliberately prefers the right when the place he is leaving and the place he is entering are equal. What appears to me is that what al-Bukhari mentioned is more appropriate, because the original rule is that the right is preferred over what? The left. Now, if someone says: Let the person walk, and if it happens that his right foot comes forward, let it be so, or if the left comes forward, let it be so, meaning he does not intend it, we say: The hadith of 'A'ishah indicates that it is preferable to prefer the right.