عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بنِ الأَكْوعِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رجُلًا أَكَل عِنْدَ رسولِ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم بشِمالِهِ، فقالَ: «كُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ» قالَ: لا أَسْتَطِيعُ! قال: «لا اسْتَطَعْتَ» مَا مَنَعَهُ إِلَّا الكبْرُ. قال: فما رَفَعها إِلى فِيهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .
Salamah ibn al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man ate in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with his left hand, so he said, "Eat with your right hand." The man said, "I cannot." He said, "May you never be able to" - nothing prevented him but pride. He said: And the man never raised it to his mouth afterward. [Reported by Muslim]
الشرح · explanation
لا أستطيع: لا أقدر مع أنّه لَم يَكن به بأس ولا عِلَّة، ولو كان به عِلَّة، للاحظ ذلك النّبيّ ﷺ وما أمره بما لا يستطيع، لأنه ﷺ الأرحم بالأمة. لا اسْتَطَعت: دعاء عليه، لاستِكباره عن اتباع الحقّ والعمل بالسنة بلا عذر.
I cannot: I am unable - though there was nothing wrong with him and no ailment; and had he had an ailment, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have noticed it and would not have commanded him with what he could not do, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most merciful to the Ummah. May you never be able to: a supplication against him, because of his arrogance in refusing to follow the truth and act upon the Sunnah without any excuse.
الدروس · lessons
استحباب الأكل باليمين، وكراهية الأكل بالشمال إلَّا لعذر، كمرض أو قطع. الواجب أن الإنسان ينصح وينبّه ولو بطريقة خفية. التكبُّر عن امتثال الشرع يوجب العقوبات العظيمة على صاحبه. وجوب العناية بالسنة والعمل بها والحذر من مخالفتها. جواز الدعاء على من خَالف الحُكم الشرعيّ بلا عذر. استحباب تعليم الآكل آداب الأكل إذا خالفها. لا يتناول النَّهي من كانت في يده جراحةٌ أو إصابةٌ أو نحو ذلك، فيُرخّص له الأكل أو الشرب بيده الأخرى. الضرورات تبيح المحظورات. قبح الكبر و عاقبة من اتصف به.
The recommendation of eating with the right hand, and the dislike of eating with the left except for an excuse such as illness or amputation. It is obligatory that a person give counsel and admonition, even if by a subtle means. Arrogance in complying with the Sacred Law brings great punishments upon the one who has it. The obligation of caring for the Sunnah, acting upon it, and being wary of opposing it. The permissibility of supplicating against one who opposes a Sacred ruling without an excuse. The recommendation of teaching the one eating the etiquette of eating if he violates it. The prohibition does not apply to one who has a wound or injury on his hand or the like, so he is permitted to eat or drink with his other hand. Necessities permit prohibited things. The ugliness of pride and the fate of one who is characterized by it.