Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Wearing shoes is a cause of honor and dignity, because it provides comfortable protection for the feet. Since the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would begin every honorable and dignified act from the right side, he gave the same instruction regarding shoes as well. And since removing shoes is not an act of honor or dignity, the left should be removed first. Since wearing shoes is a means of honor, dignity, protection, and adornment for the feet, both shoes should be worn, or both should be removed, so that equality and balance are maintained between both feet. If one wears only one shoe, the other foot will remain unprotected and deprived of adornment, and special care would be needed for its protection. Furthermore, a person’s gait and manner of walking would also lack balance, and people would look at him with strange eyes, because he would walk in an awkward manner, and due to the unevenness, there is also a risk of falling.

Hadith Commentary:
These are Islamic etiquettes which comprise countless benefits.
Distinguishing between the right and the left in accordance with the guidance of the Shari‘ah is very necessary to keep in view.
The meaning of "The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam" is precisely that the best way of life is the one exemplified by the Noble Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Regarding wearing shoes, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has informed us of many etiquettes, one of which is not to walk wearing only one shoe.
There are several wisdoms behind this, the details of which are as follows:
➊ Walking in this manner, apart from being difficult, carries the risk of slipping, being pricked by a thorn, or spraining an ankle.
➋ In the eyes of onlookers, it is considered blameworthy that one foot is shod while the other is bare.
➌ The gaze of those walking by is drawn to this, thinking perhaps one of his legs is shorter.
➍ Some scholars have described walking in this way as the gait of Shaytan.
(‘Umdat al-Qari: 15/62) (2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has written that this prohibition also applies to leather socks (khuffayn); likewise, to keep one sleeve of the shirt out and to leave one shoulder bare while covering the other with a cloak—all these things are included in this prohibition.
(Fath al-Bari: 10/383)

Explanation:
1:
Wearing shoes is a means of honor and respect for the feet.
In this regard, the right foot is most deserving of this honor,
because the right foot is superior to the left.

Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:

➊
The distinction between right and left is an important principle of Islamic etiquette.

➋
Some actions that are to be done with the right hand or from the right side are as follows:
Eating, drinking, shaking hands, taking or giving something, putting on clothes, putting on shoes, entering the mosque, coming out of the toilet, using the miswak (tooth-stick), performing ablution (wudu) and ritual bath (ghusl), combing the hair, trimming the moustache, removing armpit hair, writing, and every action that is considered good according to the Shari‘ah or custom.

➌
Some actions that are to be done with the left hand or from the left side are as follows:
Exiting the mosque, entering the toilet, performing istinja (cleaning oneself after relieving oneself), cleaning the nose, taking off shoes, and other such actions.

Takhrij:
[بخاري : 5855],
[مسلم : اللباس 5495],
[بلوغ المرام : 1247],
[تحفة الاشراف 191/10]

Benefits:

➊ All those actions which are a means of adornment, honor, or nobility should be started from the right side:

«كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يعجبه التيمن فى تنعله وترجله وطهوره وفي شأنه كله»

“The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked to start from the right side in putting on his shoes, combing his hair, performing ablution (wudu), and in all his affairs.” [متفق عليه]

For example: wearing trousers, entering the mosque with the right foot, applying kohl. The reason for this is that Allah Ta’ala has placed more strength and capability in the right side, due to which the right side is more deserving of honor.

➋ For those actions which are the opposite, one should begin from the left side, for example: when leaving the mosque or entering the toilet, one should put the left foot first.

➌ Since wearing shoes is a means of honor and adornment, the command is to begin with the right foot. And in removing shoes, it is the opposite; thus, the command is to remove the shoe from the right foot last, so that it remains adorned for as long as possible. [قاله الحليمي۔ فتح]

➍ The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used his right hand for eating, drinking, wearing clothes, and for ablution (wudu). And he used his left hand for cleaning after relieving oneself (istinja) and for removing filth and dirt, etc. [ابوداود كتاب الطهارة باب 18] He would also clean his nose with the left hand. [سنن الدارمي حديث 701]

➎ It is narrated from Aisha radi Allahu anha that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam loved to use the right hand; he would take with the right hand, give with the right hand, and preferred the right side in all his affairs. [نسائي/ الزينة باب 8 صحيح النسائي]

Takhrij:
«أخرجه البخاري، اللباس، باب ينزع نعله اليسري، حديث:5856، ومسلم، اللباس والزينة، باب استحباب لبس النعل في اليمني أولًا...، حديث:2097.»©Explanation:
Every honorable and dignified action should be initiated from the right side, and every action of lesser importance should be started from the left side. For example: putting on shoes, combing the hair, performing ablution (wudu), wearing a shirt, shalwar, or pajama, etc., should be started from the right side; and removing shoes, performing istinja (cleansing after relieving oneself), etc., should be started from the left side.

Similarly, when entering the mosque, one should enter with the right foot first, and when exiting, the left foot should be taken out first.

Takhrij al-Hadith:
[وأخرجه البخاري 5856، من حديث مالك به ● وفي رواية يحيى بن يحيى : ”الْيُمْنٰى“]

Jurisprudential Explanation:
➊ In righteous deeds, the right side has superiority over the left side.
➋ Except for istinja (cleansing after relieving oneself) and specific private matters, every action should be started from the right side.
➌ It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam liked to begin with the right side when performing ablution (wudu), combing his hair, and putting on his shoes. [صحيح بخاري : 5854، صحيح مسلم : 268، دارالسلام : 616] In fact, in another narration it is mentioned that he liked to begin with the right side in all matters. [صحيح مسلم : 67/268، دارالسلام : 617] The method of putting on and taking off shoes mentioned in the hadith is among the neglected Sunnahs, meaning there is much negligence in this regard; rather, the majority of people are unaware of it altogether. Therefore, not only should one act upon it oneself, but others should also be encouraged to do so.