Eating or drinking with the left hand
Question
Imam Sahib, I am a 26 year old muslim girl and would like to know some ahadith according to which eating or drinking with the left hand is forbidden and how can i try to change the habit now that all these years have passed and find it very difficult to use my right hand for this purpose. May Allah reward you for helping Muslims all over the world.
Answer
1) Salamah bin Akwa' radiyaalahu anhu reports that once a person was eating with his left hand in the presence of Nabi alaihis salaam, so Nabi alaihis salaam said to him: 'Eat wiht your right hand". He replied: 'I am unable to do so'. Nothing prevented him except pride from eating with his right hand. Thereafter, he was never able to lift his right hand to his mouth. (It became paralysed due to not obeying Nabi alaihis salaam). Refer to Riyadus Saaliheen pg. 333, Saleem Book Depot.
2) The first effort you should begin with is to try as much as possible to eat with your right hand even it means that you eat only a few morsels with your right hand and thereafter you continue with your left hand. The second effort is to ask Allah Ta'ala to grant you the strength and ability to eat according to the Sunnat and only to please Him. Thirdly, is that while you are eating, try to encourage others with you to eat with the right hand.
Insha Allah, if you are true and sincere for your love for the Sunnat then Allah Ta'ala will definitely endow with the power of practising on the complete sunnat. Aameen.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
- Answered by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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