Al Minah Al `Aliyyah (31)

12. It is recommended to offer water to the one on the right-hand side:

Namely, if one drinks, it is Sunnah to pass the vessel to the one on the right-hand side. What substantiates this is the following hadith: Anas ibn Malik t narrated, “I saw Allah’s Messenger r drinking milk. He came to my house and I milked a sheep and then mixed the milk with water from the well for him r. He took the bowl and drank. Abu Bakr was sitting on his left Umar t was infront of him and a Bedouin on his right. He r gave the remaining milk to the Bedouin and said, ‘The right! The right (first)’ Anas r added: It is Sunnah repeating it thrice.”^[1]

Also, Sahl ibn Sa’d as-Sa’idi t narrated, “Once there was a young boy sitting on the right side of the Prophet r, while on the left side there was one of the wise elders of the Companions; someone brought the Prophet r something to drink and he drank a little of it. He then turned to the boy on his right and asked with great politeness: ‘With your permission, can I give this to the older person first?’ The young boy said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I do not wish to give away anything that you have offered to me!’ So, the Prophet r gave the drink to the young boy.”^[2] An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “These ahadith show that it is Sunnah to do so and this also agrees with the texts of the Shari’ah.” 

It is also from the Sunnah to start with the right side in all affairs. For example, water should be given to the one who is on the right hand side whether young or old, because the Prophet r gave priority to the young boy in the presence of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar  (may Allah be pleased with them). As for giving priority to the aged person, they are equal in other aspects. In other words, the one who is more knowledgeable and whose recitation is better, he should lead people in prayer.^[3]

13  . The one who serves the water to the

 people should be the last one to drink :

 What supports this Sunnah is the hadith that Abu Qatadah t narrated. He said, “The Prophet r was pouring water for me and I was serving it to the people until all the people drank except the Prophet r and I. He said to me: ‘Drink.’ I said that I would not drink until he drank.  He said,  ‘The one who serves water to the people should be the last to drink.’  So, both of us drank.”^[4]

Advantage: 

It is Sunnah for the one who drinks milk to rinse his mouth after finishing drinking so that no trace of fat will be left in his mouth. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, “The Prophet r drank some milk and after a while he asked for some water. He rinsed his mouth and said: ‘It has fat.’” ^[5]

14 . To cover containers and mention Allah ’s

Name when the night falls :

 It is Sunnah to cover utensils or containers (that have food or water in them) when the night falls and to mention Allah’s Name when doing so.  Jabir (may Allah be pleased with thim) narrated, Allah’s Messenger r said,

“Tie the mouth of your water-skin and mention Allah’s Name; cover your containers and utensils and mention Allah’s Name. Cover them even by placing something over it, and extinguish your lamps.”^[6]

 This hadith reveals the reason behind covering containers, which is to prevent anything harmful from falling into them.  It should be noted that the Shari’ah came with all goodness to people in this life and in the Hereafter. O Allah, we are very neglectful with regards to the greatness of this religion. This hadith also indicates the importance of applying the Sunnah as the Prophet r guided us here to the simple things. If a person does not find anything to cover his container, he can do so even with a stick just to follow the Sunnah. Al-Bukhari reported a hadith that indicates that it is from the Sunnah to cover containers that have food in them too. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger r said, “Put out the lamps when you go to bed, shut the doors, and cover water and food containers.” Jabir added,  “I presume that he said: ‘Even with a stick.’”^[7]

In Muslim’s sahih hadith there is another cause behind covering containers.  Namely, Satan wants to spoil the food and eat it. The Prophet r said,

“When night falls stop your children from going out, for the devils spread out at that time. But when an hour of the night has passed, release them and close the doors and mention Allah’s Name, for Satan does not open a closed door. Tie the mouth of your water-skin and mention Allah’s Name; cover your containers and utensils and mention Allah’s Name. Cover them even by placing something across it, and extinguish your lamps.”^[8]

 This hadith reveals another Sunnah, which is to tighten the water-skin and cover containers and mention the name of Allah. Undoubtedly, this will make Satan run away and the food lawful.

Here we have to say something :

Imagine dear brothers and sisters how Satan seeks to harm a person and spoil their life and religion. Hence, he will eat, drink and spend the night as the Prophet r said in the agreed upon hadith. He said the following about a man who spent the night but did not pray Fajr in the mosque,

“This is a man in whose ear or ears Satan urinated.”^[9]

Satan laughs when the Muslim yawns without restraining his yawning – as we shall see. He also weeps when the Muslim prostrates upon reading a verse of prostration. Satan will say, “Woe to me. The son of Adam was ordered to prostrate and he did so and, therefore, he will be granted paradise. I was ordered to prostrate and disobeyed and, therefore, I shall go the Hellfire.”^[10]

He flees and passes wind upon hearing the adhan as it was reported in the two sahihs ahadith. The Prophet r said,  “When the adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the adhan. When the adhan is completed he comes back, but again takes to his heels when the Iqamah is pronounced, and after its completion he returns again till he whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from his prayer). He makes him remember things which he did not recall in his mind before the prayer and that causes him to forget how much he has prayed.”^[11]

It is disliked for the Muslim to sit half in the shade and half in the sun as reported by Imam Ahmad, An-Nasa’i and graded as sound by Al-Albani.  It is also disliked for the Muslim to wear one shoe only (not pairs) as reported by At-Tahaawai and graded as sound by Al-Albani.

The most beloved deed to Satan is to sow sedition and cause separation of a husband from his wife. Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, Allah’s Messenger r said:

 “Iblis (Satan) places his throne upon the water, then he sends his groups out. The closest to him are those who (tempt people to) commit the most grievous of sins (fitnah). One of them would approach him and say: ‘I did such-and-such.’ Iblis would reply: ‘You have done nothing.’ Another would approach and say: ‘I did not leave him (a man) until I caused him to leave his wife and for them to be separated.’ Iblis would then bring him close to his throne and would say: ‘How good you are!’”^[12]

The door by which Satan easily comes to the Muslim is through the word “If” as reported in Muslim’s sahih hadith through Abu Huriarah t that the Prophet r said, “If something happens to you that you do not like, do not say that if you would have done such and such, it would have been such and such, rather say that this is the decree of Allah and He willed as He did.”

Hence the word “If.” which is “Law” in Arabic, opens the door for Satan .^[13]  Satan is most eager to spoil the Muslim’s prayer as was already mentioned. Also, ‘Uthman ibn Abil-'Aas  went to the Prophet r and said:

“Satan comes between me and my prayer and recitation of the Qur’an, and he is confusing me.” The Messenger of Allah r said: “That is a devil called Khinzab. If you notice that happening (in the prayer), then seek refuge with Allah from him, and spit dry air onto your left shoulder three times.” Uthman ibn Abil- ٰAas t said: “I did that and Allah took him away from me.”^[14]

Having mentioned the above, Satan consumes man’s food and drink, stays in his bed, accompanies him when he yawns and laughs at him and also accompanies him during his prayer. Furthermore, Satan has the ability to separate a husband from his wife through his evil plots and stops at nothing to spoil man’s acts of worship and creed. It is narrated in the two sahih ahadith through Abu Hurairah t that the Prophet r said, “Satan comes to one of you and asks, ‘Who created so-and-so?’ Until he asks, ‘Who has created your Lord?’ So, when he asks such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts.” ^[15]

In conclusion, Satan is present in all of man’s affairs as Allah’s Messenger said, “Satan is present in all your affairs.”^[16] Thus it is imperative that every Muslim be aware of Satan’s whispers and plots so that they do not lose any of their good deeds. Hence, in order not to lose any blessings, the Muslim should be cautious and try to keep Satan away from their life. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger r said,

“If, whenever anyone of you sexually approaches their spouse, you should say: ‘O Allah, keep Satan away from us, and keep him away from any offspring You may bless us with,’ then the Satan will never harm any offspring you are destined to produce.’”^[17]
Also when a Muslim recited Ayatul Kursi before sleeping, Allah will keep Satan away from that person, as is proved in the sound hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah t .^[18]

And Allah knows best.

Prohibited things in this section: It is prohibited to eat or drink from silver or gold vessels, to eat birds and animals which have talons and canines with which they catch prey, to breathe into the vessel, to eat while lying down, to eat using the left hand, to eat two dates at the same time (and this also applies to other fruits), to over eat and to offer prayer in the presence of food.