Shaytaan
is the head of disbelief as stated by Allaah
the Exalted: “And (remember) when we said to the angels: ‘Prostrate
yourself before Aadam’. And they prostrated except Iblees (Shaytaan), he
refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers.”
The disbelievers among the children of Aadam
are the enemies of Allaah and
the allies of Shaytaan as stated by Allaah
the Exalted: “Allaah is the ally of those who
believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. And those who
disbelieve - their allies are Taghut. They take them out of the light into
darknesses. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally”.
Imitating
Shaytaan or the disbelievers is for a person to do their actions or put on a
garment that is specific to them or to adorn himself with the adornment that is
specific to them regardless of whether he intends imitation or not. If it is
said that this is the garment of the disbelievers, it is unlawful for a Muslim
to wear it. If it is said that this is the fashion of the disbelievers … it is
unlawful for a Muslim imitate them. The same applies to Shaytaan. Do not
imitate him in his actions. However, Shaytaan is from the world of the unseen.
We do not know of his actions except what has been reported to us from the
Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)
about him.
In
the hadeeth of Ibn Umar (may
Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “None of you should eat with
his left hand or drink with his left hand because Shaytaan eats and drinks with
his left hand”.
Therefore the Prophet (sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam) forbade eating and drinking with the left hand; and the
reason is that it is one of the actions of Shaytaan. Shaytaan
eats and drinks with his left hand and we have been forbidden from following
him as stated by Allaah: “O you who have believed, do not follow
the footsteps of Shaytaan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he
enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you
and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies
whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”.
The
above hadeeth indicates that it is prohibited to eat and drinking with
the left hand, and that whoever eats or drinks with left hand is imitating Shaytaan,
who is our enemy and enemy of Allaah.
You will be surprised about some people today, after they have mingled with the
disbelievers and seen them following their leader Shaytaan in eating and
drinking with the left hand; you will be surprised to see these people eating
and drinking with their left hands and leaving the guidance of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) thereby
becoming emulators of Shaytaan and disbelievers, and not emulators of the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) opposing
his guidance and Sunnah.
Among
the people is one who eats and drinks with the right hand. However, if he is
given water to drink while eating, he drinks with his left hand saying, ‘I fear
that the bowl would be stained’. Glorified and Exalted be Allaah! If the bowl becomes
stained, would it be stained with impurity or food? Food is lawful. What a
person is required to do is only to wash the glass after drinking. Today we now
drink with plastic cups that are used once and discarded. But Shaytaan beautifies
for a person the evil of his action so he will see it as good. Allaah the Exalted said in
repudiation to these people: “Then is one to whom the evil of his
deed has been made attractive so he considers it good [like one rightly
guided]? For indeed, Allaah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He
wills. So do not let yourself perish over them in regret. Indeed, Allaah is
Knowing of what they do.”
We
ask Allaah for well-being. It
is forbidden for a person to eat or drink with his left hand at all times
except when there is necessity. If the right hand is paralyzed or broken or the
person does not have fingers and the like among necessities, this is a necessity.
Allaah has not placed hardship
upon us in the religion.
The
Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)
saw one man eating with his left hand and forbade him but the man said’ ‘I
cannot eat with my right hand’. So the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said to him, ‘You will never be able
to eat with it.’ And he was unable to raise his right hand to his mouth
afterwards.
It became paralyzed because he lied when he said, ‘I cannot eat with it’.
However, the supplication of the Prophet (sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam) against him shows that eating with the left hand is
unlawful. Even though it was pride that prevented this man. But the
supplication of the Prophet (sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam) against him shows the prohibition of his action. And it is
like that.
Part
of imitating Shaytaan is giving and taking with the left hand. Unfortunately,
most people, students of knowledge and people of goodness and worship give and
take with left hand. For example, giving something with the left hand,
Glorified and Exalted be Allaah! The one giving and taking with the left hand
is imitating Shaytaan and it is contrary to sense of honour and
etiquette. If you want to give someone something, give him with the right hand
and if you want to collect or receive something from him do so with the right
hand unless if the right hand is preoccupied. For example when it is carrying
something very heavy and it is impossible to transfer it to the left hand.
Every situation has its own status. However, do not give with the left hand
without any reason and do not collect something with it if you desire the
guidance of the Prophet (sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam). We ask Allaah
to give us success and guidance.
Source:
Sharh Riyaad as-Saaliheen, vol. 4,
pp. 236-238, by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on
him)
