Is it allowed to eat or drink with the left hand?
The question as asked, details removedIs eating or drinking with the left hand a sin, or just less preferred?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
Eating and drinking with the left hand without an excuse is makruh and against the sunnah, and should be avoided. If the right hand is injured or cannot be used, the left hand may be used.
2Detailed answer
The sunnah is to eat and drink with the right hand. So:
- Eating or drinking with the left hand without an excuse is makruh. The Prophet ﷺ forbade it and said that Shaytan eats and drinks with his left hand.
- With an excuse, such as an injury or disability in the right hand, there is no harm in using the left.
- If the right hand is greasy during a meal, hold the glass with the right hand anyway, or support it with the left while the right still holds it.
Other sunnahs of eating are saying Bismillah at the start, eating from the side of the plate nearest you, and praising Allah at the end.
3Evidence and sources
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Drinks
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on eating and drinking
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
إذا أكل أحدكم فليأكل بيمينه، وإذا شرب فليشرب بيمينه، فإن الشيطان يأكل بشماله ويشرب بشماله
Meaning: When one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, for Shaytan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.
The command and the reason given in the hadith show that using the left hand without need is disliked.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ