✍ Excerpt from: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī – “Aḥkām wa Masā’il Kitāb wa Sunnat kī Roshni Main”
Should the right hand be used when giving and receiving items, or is it permissible to use the left hand as well? Please clarify with evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Allah ﷻ has granted man numerous blessings and qualities — and among the greatest of these is the human body itself. From these blessings are the hands, through which one engages in daily tasks and activities. However, man has not been left unguided; rather, Allah ﷻ sent guidance and revelation through the Prophets and Messengers, and for this ummah, He sent the final Messenger, Muḥammad ﷺ, with a complete and radiant Sharīʿah — guiding mankind in every aspect of life, including the proper use of the hands.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ preferred to use his right hand for all good and noble actions.
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
"The Prophet ﷺ liked to begin with the right in putting on his shoes, combing his hair, performing ablution, and in all his affairs."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Wuḍūʾ: 168; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 268]
Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله said:
"The consistent legal principle in Sharīʿah is that it is recommended to begin with the right in all acts related to honor and beautification. Conversely, for actions of the opposite nature, it is preferred to begin with the left."
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 1/270]
In Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2/137–138), he further elaborates:
"This established principle applies to acts such as wearing garments, trousers, footwear, entering the mosque, using the siwāk, applying kohl, trimming the nails, shortening the moustache, combing the hair, removing armpit hair, shaving the head, concluding the prayer (with salām), washing limbs in wuḍūʾ, exiting the toilet, eating, drinking, shaking hands, and touching the Black Stone. All these should be started with the right side.
As for opposites — such as entering the toilet, leaving the mosque, blowing the nose, cleaning oneself (after relieving), removing garments or footwear — it is preferred to begin with the left. This is due to the honor and virtue of the right hand and side."
The right hand and side carry honor and blessings in the Qur’an:
﴿وَنَادَيْنَاهُ مِنْ جَانِبِ الطُّورِ الْأَيْمَنِ﴾
“And We called him from the right side of the Mount.”
[Maryam: 52]
And the righteous will be handed their records in the right hand:
﴿فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ﴾
“As for the one who receives his Book in his right hand…”
[al-Inshiqāq: 7–8]
Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله titled the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
"The Sunnah is to begin with the right before the left."
[al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 1/86]
The Companions and scholars of the past practiced this actively. In our era, those engaged in daʿwah and jihād are observed to be very diligent in beginning all noble actions with the right hand — eating, drinking, dressing, and giving or receiving items.
Although some may consider this attention to detail as unnecessary or excessive, further study of the ḥadīths shows that those who observe this practice are indeed upon a stronger position.
Narrated by Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade that a man should give or take something with his left hand, and He also forbade breathing into the vessel while drinking."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 12/32 – Ḥadīth 5228, Musnad Abī ʿAwānah: 5/153 – Ḥadīth 8206]
“Mention of the prohibition of giving or receiving anything with the left hand.”
❖ The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is to prefer the right hand in all noble, clean, and honorable tasks.
❖ This includes giving and receiving items — a point explicitly mentioned in the ḥadīth.
❖ Therefore, a Muslim should make a conscious effort to give and take with the right hand and avoid the left unless necessary.
❖ This practice is based not merely on preference, but on the explicit guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.
May Allah give us the ability to follow the Sunnah in every detail of our lives.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
❖ Question:
Should the right hand be used when giving and receiving items, or is it permissible to use the left hand as well? Please clarify with evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
✔ Answer:
Allah ﷻ has granted man numerous blessings and qualities — and among the greatest of these is the human body itself. From these blessings are the hands, through which one engages in daily tasks and activities. However, man has not been left unguided; rather, Allah ﷻ sent guidance and revelation through the Prophets and Messengers, and for this ummah, He sent the final Messenger, Muḥammad ﷺ, with a complete and radiant Sharīʿah — guiding mankind in every aspect of life, including the proper use of the hands.
✿ The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ preferred to use his right hand for all good and noble actions.
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
"The Prophet ﷺ liked to begin with the right in putting on his shoes, combing his hair, performing ablution, and in all his affairs."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Wuḍūʾ: 168; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 268]✦ Scholarly Commentary
Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله said:
"The consistent legal principle in Sharīʿah is that it is recommended to begin with the right in all acts related to honor and beautification. Conversely, for actions of the opposite nature, it is preferred to begin with the left."
[Fatḥ al-Bārī: 1/270]In Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2/137–138), he further elaborates:
"This established principle applies to acts such as wearing garments, trousers, footwear, entering the mosque, using the siwāk, applying kohl, trimming the nails, shortening the moustache, combing the hair, removing armpit hair, shaving the head, concluding the prayer (with salām), washing limbs in wuḍūʾ, exiting the toilet, eating, drinking, shaking hands, and touching the Black Stone. All these should be started with the right side.
As for opposites — such as entering the toilet, leaving the mosque, blowing the nose, cleaning oneself (after relieving), removing garments or footwear — it is preferred to begin with the left. This is due to the honor and virtue of the right hand and side."
Virtue of the Right Side in the Qur’an
The right hand and side carry honor and blessings in the Qur’an:
﴿وَنَادَيْنَاهُ مِنْ جَانِبِ الطُّورِ الْأَيْمَنِ﴾
“And We called him from the right side of the Mount.”
[Maryam: 52]And the righteous will be handed their records in the right hand:
﴿فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ﴾
“As for the one who receives his Book in his right hand…”
[al-Inshiqāq: 7–8]
Hadith Evidence on Giving and Taking with the Right Hand
Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله titled the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
"The Sunnah is to begin with the right before the left."
[al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 1/86]The Companions and scholars of the past practiced this actively. In our era, those engaged in daʿwah and jihād are observed to be very diligent in beginning all noble actions with the right hand — eating, drinking, dressing, and giving or receiving items.
Although some may consider this attention to detail as unnecessary or excessive, further study of the ḥadīths shows that those who observe this practice are indeed upon a stronger position.
Direct Prohibition of Using the Left Hand
Narrated by Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade that a man should give or take something with his left hand, and He also forbade breathing into the vessel while drinking."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 12/32 – Ḥadīth 5228, Musnad Abī ʿAwānah: 5/153 – Ḥadīth 8206] Imam Ibn Ḥibbān رحمه الله Titled This Chapter:
“Mention of the prohibition of giving or receiving anything with the left hand.”
Conclusion
❖ The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is to prefer the right hand in all noble, clean, and honorable tasks.
❖ This includes giving and receiving items — a point explicitly mentioned in the ḥadīth.
❖ Therefore, a Muslim should make a conscious effort to give and take with the right hand and avoid the left unless necessary.
❖ This practice is based not merely on preference, but on the explicit guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.
May Allah give us the ability to follow the Sunnah in every detail of our lives.
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ
