This is one of the first Sunnahs children learn, and one of the first they question, especially left-handers.
The teaching
- Eat and drink with the right hand (Sahih Muslim 2020).
- The Prophet ﷺ taught a boy, Umar ibn Abi Salamah: “Say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376).
What to tell your child
“The Prophet ﷺ loved to start with the right in good things: eating, drinking, putting on shoes, entering the masjid. We follow him because we love him.”
Left-handed children
| Activity | Hand |
|---|---|
| Eating and drinking | Right |
| Writing, drawing | Left is fine |
| Sport, playing | Either |
| Using a knife and fork | Fork in the right hand to bring food to the mouth; knife in the left is fine |
See left-handed Arabic writing.
Practise gently
- A small reminder: tap the right hand.
- Praise: “Lovely Sunnah eating!”
- Don’t shame or grab the hand.
Other “right first” Sunnahs
- Right shoe first; right foot into the masjid and the home.
- Starting wudu with the right.
Teacher’s tip: for left-handed children, practise drinking with the right hand first (easier), then eating. It builds the habit step by step.
Related: Islamic manners of eating.
