What is the ruling on eating with the left hand?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on eating with the left hand? May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : Eating with the left hand, drinking with the left hand, taking with the left hand, and giving with the left hand, all four of these are contrary to the Sunnah. Eating is done with the right hand, drinking is done with the right hand, taking from others is done with the right hand, and giving to others is done with the right hand. This is the Sunnah. However, eating with the left hand and drinking with the left hand are forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1799Sahih (Darussalam). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade eating with the left hand and drinking with the left hand, and he explained this prohibition by stating that it is the action of Satan. This confirms the necessity of avoiding eating with the left hand and drinking with the left hand. I do not know what a Muslim brother would choose if he were given the option between following Satan in his steps in his eating and drinking, imitating him in his eating and drinking, or following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his guidance and instruction. I do not know which he would choose if given the option. It is well known that every believer will choose to follow the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and adhere to his directives, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him.
Accordingly, we say: It is forbidden for a person to eat with his left hand or drink with his left hand. And if it is forbidden, then according to the legal principle, the forbidden does not become permissible except out of dire necessity. Dire necessity is, for example, if the right hand is paralyzed, or if the right hand is broken, or if the right hand is burned, or similar matters or similar circumstances where it becomes impossible to eat with the right hand or drink with the right hand.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge.
The Shaykh : Eating with the left hand, drinking with the left hand, taking with the left hand, and giving with the left hand, all four of these are contrary to the Sunnah. Eating is done with the right hand, drinking is done with the right hand, taking from others is done with the right hand, and giving to others is done with the right hand. This is the Sunnah. However, eating with the left hand and drinking with the left hand are forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Let none of you wat with his left hand nor drink with his left hand, for indeed Ash-Shaitan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.
لا يأكل أحدكم بشماله، ولا يشرب بشماله، فإن الشيطان يأكل بشماله ويشرب بشمالهAccordingly, we say: It is forbidden for a person to eat with his left hand or drink with his left hand. And if it is forbidden, then according to the legal principle, the forbidden does not become permissible except out of dire necessity. Dire necessity is, for example, if the right hand is paralyzed, or if the right hand is broken, or if the right hand is burned, or similar matters or similar circumstances where it becomes impossible to eat with the right hand or drink with the right hand.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge.