If anyone of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and if he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, for indeed the devil eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand

Arabic text

عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِيَمِينِهِ، وَإِذَا شَرِبَ فَلْيَشْرَبْ بِيَمِينِهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَأْكُلُ بِشِمَالِهِ، وَيَشْرَبُ بِشِمَالِهِ».

Translation

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If anyone of you eats, let him eat with his right hand, and if he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, for indeed the devil eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) enjoins that Muslims should eat and drink with their right hand and forbade eating and drinking with their left hand. This is because the devil eats and drinks with the left hand.

Benefits

• It is prohibited to imitate the devil in eating or drinking with the left hand.

Topics

• Virtues and Manners
• Shariah-approved Manners
• Manners of Eating and Drinking