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The Holy Prophet ﷺ starting every task from the right side

The Holy Prophet ﷺ starting every task from the right side

Personal Traits of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ

Hadith

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ یُعْجِبُهُ التَّيَمُّنُ في شَاْنِهِ كُلِّهِ: فِيْ طُهُوْرِهِ وَتَرَجُّلِهِ وَتَنَعُّلِهِ.

ریاض الصالحین (حدیث 721)

Translation

Sayyidatuna Aisha Siddiqa رضي الله عنها reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ liked to begin all his actions from the right side, such as in purification, combing his hair, and wearing his blessed sandals.

Narration

The Holy Prophet ﷺ would begin all his actions with his right side. Here, 'all actions' refers to those actions that are honorable (good and lofty) and of a decorative nature, and which are related to intended actions. However, those actions which are recommended to be done with the left hand, or those actions which are not intrinsically intended, such as entering the restroom or leaving the mosque, etc., in such actions, the Holy Prophet ﷺ would give preference to the left side. And those actions which are recommended to be done with the right hand, he ﷺ would perform them with his right hand in every situation and never abandon this practice in travel or at home, in leisure or in business. Yes, if he could not use his right hand due to some compulsion, then he would use his left hand. The renowned commentator, great scholar of Hadith, sage of the Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رحمۃ اللہ علیہ says: 'These three things (i.e., performing ablution, combing hair, and giving precedence to the right side when wearing sandals) are mentioned as examples; otherwise, applying kohl, trimming nails and underarm hair, getting a haircut and trimming the mustache, entering the mosque and using a miswak, etc., in all these, the Sunnah is to begin with the right hand or the right side because the angel who records good deeds stays on the right side, due to which this direction is superior, so much so that the right neighbor is more deserving of good treatment than the left neighbor.'

Key Points

  • When distributing food and drink, one should begin from the right side, as this is the blessed Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ.
  • The reason why the Beloved Prophet ﷺ performed every action with his right hand was that he liked positive outlooks, and the positive outlook in the right hand is that it is towards the people of Paradise.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ starting every task from the right side | Shamail Tirmidhi - Seerat Ki Dunya