When pouring coffee, is it better to start with the eldest or with the person sitting on the right?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : From Unayzah?
The questioner : No, from al-Bukayriyah.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh. If a person wants to pour coffee, or if he enters the gathering, with whom does he start? Does he start with the person on the right, even if they are young? Or with whom, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh : He starts with the eldest. The eldest of the group is the one he starts with, then he starts with the person on his right, not the person on the right of the eldest. For example, if he enters, it is known that the head of the gathering is where the elders are. He goes to the head of the gathering and gives to the eldest, then he takes from the person on his right. The person on his right will be the one on the left of this eldest, because favoring the right is better. So we give to the eldest based on the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Then we give to the person on the right.
However, if there is only one vessel and we give it to the eldest and he finishes it, then he gives it to the person on his right, even if he is young, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did.
The Shaykh : From Unayzah?
The questioner : No, from al-Bukayriyah.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh. If a person wants to pour coffee, or if he enters the gathering, with whom does he start? Does he start with the person on the right, even if they are young? Or with whom, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh : He starts with the eldest. The eldest of the group is the one he starts with, then he starts with the person on his right, not the person on the right of the eldest. For example, if he enters, it is known that the head of the gathering is where the elders are. He goes to the head of the gathering and gives to the eldest, then he takes from the person on his right. The person on his right will be the one on the left of this eldest, because favoring the right is better. So we give to the eldest based on the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
Give it to the eldest, give it to the eldest.
كَبِّر كَبِّرHowever, if there is only one vessel and we give it to the eldest and he finishes it, then he gives it to the person on his right, even if he is young, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did.