Explanation of Riyad al-Salihin-87a
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The reader: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Chapter on the prohibition of imitating Satan and the disbelievers
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3268Sahih (Darussalam) Muslim narrated it
And Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1635 Muslim narrated it
And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3621Sahih (Darussalam) Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim "
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author said in his book Riyad al-Salihin: "Chapter on the prohibition of imitating Satan and the disbelievers"
Satan is the head of disbelief, as Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:[Al-Baqarah 2:34] And the disbelievers from among the children of Adam are the enemies of Allah and the close friends of Satan, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:257] Imitating Satan or the disbelievers is for a person to do their deeds, or to wear their specific clothing, or to adorn himself with their specific attire, whether he intends to imitate them or not. If it is said that this is the clothing of the disbelievers, it is forbidden for a Muslim to wear it. If it is said that this attire is the attire of the disbelievers, meaning in the head or the beard or elsewhere, it is forbidden for a Muslim to imitate them. -delayed in delay-
Similarly, we do not imitate Satan in his deeds. But Satan is from the unseen world, and we do not know of his deeds except what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us of. In the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1189 The left hand is the left hand, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited eating and drinking with it, and he explained this by saying that this is the deed of Satan; Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand. And we have been prohibited from following him, as the Exalted said: [An-Nur 24:21] This hadith indicates the prohibition of eating with the left hand and the prohibition of drinking with the left hand, and that whoever eats or drinks with his left hand is imitating Satan, who is our enemy and the enemy of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
And you are amazed at people now, after they have mixed with the disbelievers and seen them, that they imitate their leader Satan in eating with the left hand and drinking with the left hand. You are amazed at these people eating with their left hands and drinking with their left hands, and leaving the guidance of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him), thus becoming imitators of Satan and the disbelievers, not following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and contradicting his guidance and Sunnah.
And among people are those who eat with the right hand and drink with the right hand, but when drink is presented to them while they are eating, they drink with the left hand and say, "I am afraid the vessel will get dirty." Glory be to Allah! If the vessel gets dirty, it gets dirty with impurity or with food. Food is lawful, and all that is required of a person is to wash the cup after drinking. So, in the present time, we drink from the two cups, from the bag, and what one drinks is thrown away, except for one person who throws it away and does not dirty it on anyone. But Satan beautifies for a person his evil deed, so he sees it as good. And Allah the Exalted said, rebuking these people:[Fatir 35:8] We ask Allah for safety. It is forbidden for a person under any circumstances to eat or drink with his left hand, except in case of necessity, if the right hand is paralyzed or broken, or has no fingers, or something similar to that necessity. This is necessity, and Allah has not placed any hardship in the religion.
That I eat, meaning with the right hand. It became numb, it became paralyzed, because he was a liar when he said, "I cannot." But the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) against him indicates that this, meaning eating with the left hand, is forbidden. And although this man was prevented by arrogance, the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) against him indicates the prohibition of his action, and it is so.
And from this also, imitating Satan is taking with the left hand and giving with the left hand. And unfortunately, many people, even from the students of knowledge and from the people of goodness and worship, take with their left hand and give with their left hand... for example, he gives this fan and says, "Take it with the left hand." Glory be to Allah! The one who takes with the left hand and gives with the left hand is imitating Satan, and it is contrary to manliness and contrary to proper conduct. If you want to give to someone, give with the right hand. And if you want to take something from him, take it with the right hand. May Allah except if the right hand is occupied, such as if you are carrying something heavy in it that you cannot transfer to the left hand. For every situation there is a saying, but without a reason, do not give with the left hand and do not take with the left hand, if you want the guidance of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him). We ask Allah for success and guidance for us and for you.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Chapter on the prohibition of imitating Satan and the disbelievers
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not eat with your left hand, for Satan eats with his left hand.
لا تأكلوا بالشمال فإن الشيطان يأكل بالشمالAnd Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No person should eat and drink with his left hand for Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.
لا يأكلن أحدكم بشماله ولا يشربن بها فإن الشيطان يأكل بشماله ويشرب بهاAnd Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The Jews and the Christians do not dye (their hair), so differ from them.
إن اليهود والنصارى لا يصبغون فخالفوهمThe Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author said in his book Riyad al-Salihin: "Chapter on the prohibition of imitating Satan and the disbelievers"
Satan is the head of disbelief, as Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:
when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
وإذ قلنا للملائكة اسجدوا لآدم إلا إبليس ابى واستكبر وكان من الكافرينAllah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who disbelieve - their allies are Taghut. They take them out of the light into darknesses. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.
اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَSimilarly, we do not imitate Satan in his deeds. But Satan is from the unseen world, and we do not know of his deeds except what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us of. In the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
None of you should eat with his left hand nor drink with his left hand. Shaytan eats and drinks with his left hand.
لا يأكلن أحدكم بشماله ولا يشربن بشماله فإن الشيطان يأكل بشماله ويشرب بشمالهO you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تتبعوا خطوات الشيطان ومن يتبع خطوات الشيطان فإنه يأمر بالفحشاء والمنكرAnd you are amazed at people now, after they have mixed with the disbelievers and seen them, that they imitate their leader Satan in eating with the left hand and drinking with the left hand. You are amazed at these people eating with their left hands and drinking with their left hands, and leaving the guidance of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him), thus becoming imitators of Satan and the disbelievers, not following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and contradicting his guidance and Sunnah.
And among people are those who eat with the right hand and drink with the right hand, but when drink is presented to them while they are eating, they drink with the left hand and say, "I am afraid the vessel will get dirty." Glory be to Allah! If the vessel gets dirty, it gets dirty with impurity or with food. Food is lawful, and all that is required of a person is to wash the cup after drinking. So, in the present time, we drink from the two cups, from the bag, and what one drinks is thrown away, except for one person who throws it away and does not dirty it on anyone. But Satan beautifies for a person his evil deed, so he sees it as good. And Allah the Exalted said, rebuking these people:
Then is one to whom the evil of his deed has been made attractive so he considers it good [like one rightly guided]? For indeed, Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills
أفمن زين له سوء عمله فرآه حسنا فإن الله يضل من يشاء ويهدي من يشاءAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man eating with his left hand, so he forbade him, and he said, "I cannot."
ورأى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلا يـأكل بشماله فنهاه وقال لا أستطيعSo the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him, "No, you cannot." So he did not raise his right hand to his mouth after that.
فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لا استطعت فما رفع يده اليمنى إلى فمه بعد ذلكAnd from this also, imitating Satan is taking with the left hand and giving with the left hand. And unfortunately, many people, even from the students of knowledge and from the people of goodness and worship, take with their left hand and give with their left hand... for example, he gives this fan and says, "Take it with the left hand." Glory be to Allah! The one who takes with the left hand and gives with the left hand is imitating Satan, and it is contrary to manliness and contrary to proper conduct. If you want to give to someone, give with the right hand. And if you want to take something from him, take it with the right hand. May Allah except if the right hand is occupied, such as if you are carrying something heavy in it that you cannot transfer to the left hand. For every situation there is a saying, but without a reason, do not give with the left hand and do not take with the left hand, if you want the guidance of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him). We ask Allah for success and guidance for us and for you.