A wrist-watch is, after all, more akin to a ring than to anything else, so the right hand enjoys no preference over the left in this regard, nor the left over the right. The matter is spacious: wear it on your right wrist if you like, or on the left if you prefer—there is no sin in either choice.

The author then cites two verses from the Book of Allah. The first is: “As for the one who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, ‘Here, read my record!’” (Q 69:19). This scene takes place on the Day of Resurrection, when people will be handed their books—records of every deed they ever performed—either in the right hand or in the left. Whoever is “given his record in his right hand”—may Allah make us among them—will seize it in delight and jubilation, calling out to those around him, “Look! Read my record!” It is much like a student who, after receiving a passing report card, proudly shows it to his friends and relatives out of sheer happiness.

“But as for the one who is given his record in his left hand…” (Q 69:25), his situation is the very opposite: he will wish he had never received his book at all, let alone have anyone else look at it.

The second verse the author quotes is: “Then those on the right—what of those on the right? And those on the left—what of those on the left?” (Q 56:8–9). Here Allah, exalted is He, informs us that humanity will fall into three groups on the Day of Judgment: the people of the right, the people of the left, and the forerunners. The forerunners are the ones brought near; the people of the right are saved; and the people of the left are doomed. Thus, on that Day there will be three distinct categories.