4. “and his ṭahūr”: with a ḍamma on the ṭāʾ; that is, his act of purification, which includes wudu (ablution), ghusl (the full ritual bath), and the removal of filth.

5. “and in all of his affairs”: that is, in other pleasant matters like the above examples. Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn remarked: “The phrase ‘and in all of his affairs’ is a general statement that is qualified by situations such as entering the lavatory, leaving the mosque, and the like, where one begins with the left.”

Overall meaning
One of the great privileges of the Mothers of the Believers—may Allah be pleased with them, especially the memoriser, scholar, truthful one, the daughter of the truthful one—is that they transmitted to the ummah many of the Prophet’s ﷺ actions, particularly those that took place inside the home, which no one outside his household could witness.

Here ʿĀʾishah tells us of a habit beloved to the Prophet ﷺ: giving precedence to the right side when putting on his sandals, combing and arranging his hair, performing ritual purification from minor or major states, and in all comparable matters, such as putting on a shirt or trousers, lying down, eating, drinking, and the like.

All of this reflects hopeful optimism and according honor to the right side over the left. Concerning repugnant matters, however, it is preferable to use the left. Thus the Prophet ﷺ forbade cleansing oneself after relieving oneself with the right hand and forbade touching one’s private part with the right hand, for the right is reserved for pleasant things and the left for whatever is beneath that.

Points derived from the ḥadīth

1. Giving precedence to the right side in pleasant acts is superior in the Law, in reason, and even medically. Al-Nawawī said: “A constant legal principle is the recommendation to begin with the right in every matter that involves honor or adornment; in its opposite, beginning with the left is recommended.”
2. Reserving the left side for repugnant acts is more fitting both legally and rationally.
3. The noble sharīʿah has come to reform, refine, and protect people from harm.
4. In wudu it is best to wash the right limbs before the left. Al-Nawawī stated: “The scholars unanimously agree that starting with the right in ablution is Sunnah; whoever omits it loses the merit but his ablution is still valid.” Al-Mughnī adds: “No difference of opinion is known regarding its non-obligatory nature.”