4 Proofs Why Eating with the Left Hand is Halal in Islam
C.J Ahmed-10.04.2023
Eating with the left hand, although is generally forbidden is not haram if there is a good reason and is done under necessity. Islam is a pragmatic religion and sometimes it would require for a person to eat or drink with his or her left hand and there is nothing haram in doing so.
There are many hadiths which proves that even major sins are halal when there is a necessity and this is the basic Asl (Principle). This was also the understanding of the Salaf.
1) "Narrated Anas (rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In the above hadith Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam had an itch and although large amonts of silk for men is haram, they were allowed to wear silk because of the itch they were suffering.
2) The Prophet (sal) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (rali):
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih)
3) Allah (Swt) says:
"Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship"
(2:185)
Some try to quote a hadith and argue that eating with your left hand is haram no matter what. Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (rali) reported that a man ate with his left hand in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), whereupon he said:
"Eat with your right hand." The man said: "I cannot do that." Thereupon, he said: "May you not be able to do that." It was only arrogance that prevented the man from doing it, and consequently he could not raise it (his right hand) up to his mouth afterwards.” (Sahih Muslim)
In the above hadith the man refused to eat with his right hand because he was arrogant and generalizing it on the entire Muslim community is wrong and erroneous. You can eat with your left hand with good intentions because prophet (Sal) said,
4) "Actions are according to what was intended" (Bukhari)
There are several hadiths stating the prohibition of eaing or drinking with one left hand.
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (sal) having said:
“Do not eat with your left hand, for the Satan eats with his left hand.”(Muslim)
Prophet (sal) said,
“None of you must ever eat or drink with his left hand, for the devil eats and drinks with his left hand.” (Muslim)
Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet(sal) as sayings:
“When any of you eats, he should eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, he should drink with his right hand, for the devil eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.”(Abu-Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
All of these hadith should be understood in the context that it is possible to eat with the left hand under necessity and needs.
Eating with the left hand, although is generally forbidden is not haram if there is a good reason and is done under necessity. Islam is a pragmatic religion and sometimes it would require for a person to eat or drink with his or her left hand and there is nothing haram in doing so.
There are many hadiths which proves that even major sins are halal when there is a necessity and this is the basic Asl (Principle). This was also the understanding of the Salaf.
1) "Narrated Anas (rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In the above hadith Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam had an itch and although large amonts of silk for men is haram, they were allowed to wear silk because of the itch they were suffering.
2) The Prophet (sal) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (rali):
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih)
3) Allah (Swt) says:
"Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship"
(2:185)
Some try to quote a hadith and argue that eating with your left hand is haram no matter what. Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘ (rali) reported that a man ate with his left hand in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), whereupon he said:
"Eat with your right hand." The man said: "I cannot do that." Thereupon, he said: "May you not be able to do that." It was only arrogance that prevented the man from doing it, and consequently he could not raise it (his right hand) up to his mouth afterwards.” (Sahih Muslim)
In the above hadith the man refused to eat with his right hand because he was arrogant and generalizing it on the entire Muslim community is wrong and erroneous. You can eat with your left hand with good intentions because prophet (Sal) said,
4) "Actions are according to what was intended" (Bukhari)
There are several hadiths stating the prohibition of eaing or drinking with one left hand.
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (sal) having said:
“Do not eat with your left hand, for the Satan eats with his left hand.”(Muslim)
Prophet (sal) said,
“None of you must ever eat or drink with his left hand, for the devil eats and drinks with his left hand.” (Muslim)
Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet(sal) as sayings:
“When any of you eats, he should eat with his right hand, and when he drinks, he should drink with his right hand, for the devil eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand.”(Abu-Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
All of these hadith should be understood in the context that it is possible to eat with the left hand under necessity and needs.