Serving Curry While Holding the Ladle in the Left Hand

Question

Several people eat together; in the middle of them all there is lentil stew in a large bowl, and there is only one ladle. Everyone takes the ladle in his own hand and serves himself the stew. One of them takes the stew holding the ladle in his left hand so that the handle does not get soiled, at which the others become displeased. Whose act here is objectionable and whose is correct?

Answer

Doing excellent and noble acts with the right hand is established (in the sunna), and there is also encouragement towards it; serving the stew for eating is also included in this. But one should not be harsh on account of it — at most, it may be explained gently. Eating and drinking, however, should be done only with the right hand.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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