He may then say, “Some people eat with their left hand or drink with their left hand, and that is forbidden; it is not permissible.”

If a student of knowledge is present, he can turn to the student and ask, “What is your ruling on someone who eats with the left hand and drinks with the left hand?”—so that the person concerned takes notice. If the hint suffices, that is exactly what is wanted. If not, he should be told—even in private—“Do not eat with your left hand, and do not drink with your left hand,” so that he may learn Allah’s religion and His law.

There are certain affluent individuals who do eat and drink with the right hand, yet when they drink while eating they shift the cup to the left hand, claiming that if they used the right hand the cup would be smeared with food. They should be told, “This matter is not trivial, nor is it merely recommended so that you may dismiss it as unimportant. When you drink with the left hand you are disobeying, for it is unlawful—and what is unlawful is allowed only in cases of necessity, and there is no necessity for drinking with the left hand out of fear that the cup might be dirtied.”

Besides, the cup may indeed stay clean: you can hold it between the thumb and forefinger at the bottom and it will not be soiled. For the person who truly seeks goodness and truth, acting on it is easy; whereas the obstinate, the pampered, or the one who imitates the enemies of Allah—Satan and his allies—has an altogether different mindset. Allah is the One who grants success.

3/614 – Harithah ibn Wahb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Shall I tell you who the inhabitants of the Fire are? Every harsh, coarse, arrogant person.” Agreed upon, and the narration has already been cited.