Most-asked question

Is eating with the left hand sinful?

14 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 3 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Ibn Masood). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“1. It is prohibited to eat or drink with the left hand. 2. Since some people are natural left handed, they may write or do other things with the left hand. 3. This is no indication of spiritual deficiency.”

AskImam — Is it alright to let my children use their left hand to eat/drink, write, etc.? How can I become an Alima? · 5 Dec 2002

“The hadith has prohibited eating with the left hand.”

Mufti Online — Eating with the left hand · 8 Jul 2018

“To wear a watch on both hands is permissible. Some Ulema have mentioned that since a watch is used for good deeds such as checking the time for Salaah etc. it should be worn on the right hand.”

Ibn Masood — Wearing A Watch On the Left Hand · 16 Jun 2024

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Writing Āyāt of the Qur’ān with the left hand - Is this permissible? AskImam · 8 Nov 2024
  2. Wearing A Watch On the Left Hand Ibn Masood · 16 Jun 2024
  3. Eating with the left hand Mufti Online · 8 Jul 2018
  4. Left-handed people eating with the left hand AskImam · 5 Feb 2018
  5. Using the left hand placing the right hand under the glass when drinking water Mufti Online · 3 Oct 2012
  6. In which hand should we wear our watch? Is it permissible to wear it in our left hand? AskImam · 17 Feb 2010
  7. Eating with the left hand due to necessity Mufti Online · 10 Nov 2018
  8. Can i write Quran with my left hand? AskImam · 24 Aug 2009
  9. Eating with the left hand due to an excuse Mufti Online · 3 Dec 2016
  10. Is it alright to let my children use their left hand to eat/drink, write, etc.? How can I become an Alima? AskImam · 5 Dec 2002
  11. Where should one place his left hand when sleeping? Mufti Online · 21 May 2013
  12. Eating or drinking with the left hand AskImam · 29 Apr 2002
  13. What does Islam say about using the left hand to write with? AskImam · 3 Nov 2000
  14. I saw in my dreams that there is very unusual hard inflamed spot on my left hand. It was so terrible that it so the flesh of hand is just looking like a roasted skin AskImam · 20 Jun 2002

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