“Those on the right—let them begin, let them begin, let them begin.” Such is the wording of the ḥadīth, but it concerns a person who is drinking and wishes to pass the cup either to the one on his right or to the one on his left. By contrast, what many people do today—someone enters a gathering carrying a jug—is different: in that case he should start with the eldest, for the Companions would begin with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and hand it to him first. Likewise, when the Prophet ﷺ wanted to give a siwāk (tooth-stick) to one of two men standing before him, he was told, “Give it to the elder, give it to the elder.” Other ḥadīths from the Prophet ﷺ also indicate that when you enter an assembly you begin with the senior members, not merely with whoever happens to be on your right.