If a person enters a gathering, what is the right hand with which he begins the greeting?
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The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you. The right hand is preferred when entering, and likewise for the greeting when a person approaches them. The right hand is preferred in this case.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Unless it is ... then the one who is on the right.
The Shaykh : Is this correct? Here we say that if we know how to prefer one over the other, then the better option is preferred.
The questioner : Is not the right hand the better option, except in cases of ambiguity?
The Shaykh : No, this is ambiguous. Then, if we consider the right hand, do we say: the right hands of those entering, and not the right hand of the host who opened the door for them?
The questioner : The right hands of those entering, O Shaykh, because they are the ones entering.
The Shaykh : And this one is the one letting them in!
The questioner : But they are standing at the door.
The Shaykh : And this one is facing them.
The questioner : Well, if he wants to greet them?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If he wants to greet?
The Shaykh : He is not the one greeting; they are the ones greeting. The important thing is that we see in this case that the elder is given precedence. As long as there is no clear right and left, no, I mean, have you seen if an old Shaykh came with boys on his right, would we say: we give the boys precedence to enter?!
This is not accepted by custom or honor.
The questioner : Shaykh, this is very confusing.
The Shaykh : It is not confusing, my brother, and we have not known anyone to do this. All our Shaykhs go to the door and stand, and the Shaykh enters. No one says he will enter before him.
The questioner : Shaykh, what if two young men come together, meaning they have no precedence over each other.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They walk together, then they want to leave the mosque.
The Shaykh : What did he want?
The questioner : They are leaving the mosque.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They say we are both leaving.
The Shaykh : It is a matter of honor to say: "Please, go ahead." If he wants to leave, he says: "Please, go ahead." Otherwise, the custom is that the elder goes first, and there is never any right or left, yes.
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you. The right hand is preferred when entering, and likewise for the greeting when a person approaches them. The right hand is preferred in this case.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Unless it is ... then the one who is on the right.
The Shaykh : Is this correct? Here we say that if we know how to prefer one over the other, then the better option is preferred.
The questioner : Is not the right hand the better option, except in cases of ambiguity?
The Shaykh : No, this is ambiguous. Then, if we consider the right hand, do we say: the right hands of those entering, and not the right hand of the host who opened the door for them?
The questioner : The right hands of those entering, O Shaykh, because they are the ones entering.
The Shaykh : And this one is the one letting them in!
The questioner : But they are standing at the door.
The Shaykh : And this one is facing them.
The questioner : Well, if he wants to greet them?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If he wants to greet?
The Shaykh : He is not the one greeting; they are the ones greeting. The important thing is that we see in this case that the elder is given precedence. As long as there is no clear right and left, no, I mean, have you seen if an old Shaykh came with boys on his right, would we say: we give the boys precedence to enter?!
This is not accepted by custom or honor.
The questioner : Shaykh, this is very confusing.
The Shaykh : It is not confusing, my brother, and we have not known anyone to do this. All our Shaykhs go to the door and stand, and the Shaykh enters. No one says he will enter before him.
The questioner : Shaykh, what if two young men come together, meaning they have no precedence over each other.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They walk together, then they want to leave the mosque.
The Shaykh : What did he want?
The questioner : They are leaving the mosque.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : They say we are both leaving.
The Shaykh : It is a matter of honor to say: "Please, go ahead." If he wants to leave, he says: "Please, go ahead." Otherwise, the custom is that the elder goes first, and there is never any right or left, yes.