The Shar‘i Meaning of Both Hands of Allah Being 'Right' (Yameen)✍ Answered by: Al-ʿĀlim Khidr Ḥayāt ḥafiẓahullāh
Question:
According to a ḥadīth in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, both of Allah’s hands are described as right (yameen) — what is the Shar‘i interpretation of this statement?
Answer:
The preferred and sound position is that there is no contradiction between the narrations describing Allah’s hands. The Qur’ān and Sunnah refer to Allah’s hands in two ways:
Description by Name: “Right” and “Left”
Some narrations mention both hands, referring to them as right and left, e.g., the narration of Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه).
✔ These terms are used for identification, not for resemblance to creation.
Description by Honor and Virtue: Both Are “Right”
Other authentic narrations affirm that both of Allah’s hands are “right”.
✔ This signifies that both are equal in nobility, blessing (barakah), and perfection —
✘ unlike created beings, where the left hand is inferior to the right.
🗣 Clarification by Shaykh Ibn Bāz (رحمه الله):
“All aḥādīth are authentic according to Ahl al-Sunnah, and there is no contradiction between them, al-ḥamdulillāh. Allah’s hands are described as right and left by name, as in the narration of Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه), while other narrations affirm that both are ‘right’ in honor and virtue.”
(Majmūʿ Fatāwā Shaykh Ibn Bāz, 25/126)
Arabic Reference and Meaning:
"والراجح أنه لا تعارض بين الأحاديث، فالله سبحانه وتعالى توصف يداه باليمين والشمال باعتبار الاسم، أما من جهة المعنى، فكلاهما يمين مباركة."
Translation:
The strongest opinion is that there is no contradiction between the aḥādīth. Allah’s hands are described as right and left in name only, but in meaning, both are blessed right hands.
Conclusion:
✔ The aḥādīth mention both "right" and "left" hands of Allah by title,
✔ But in reality, both hands are right in terms of honor, virtue, and blessing.
✘ These descriptions do not resemble the hands of creation in any way.
