Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
What are the limits to using one’s left hand during meals? For example, what if one is eating a burger and needs both hands. Or what if one is tearing up bread with both hands etc…? Is one of piety expected to avoid using the left whatsoever even if the left is not used specifically to eat the food? I’m asking this question from the standpoint that one wishes to rigidly follow the Sunnah in the matter.
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.
The sunna is to use the right hand to eat. However, there is nothing wrong with seeking the assistance of the left hand when there is need. [Nahlawi, al-Durar al-Mubaha fi’l Hadhr wa’l Ibaha; Khadimi/Birgivi, al-Bariqa fi Sharh al-Tariqa]
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani
بريقة محمودية في شرح طريقة محمدية وشريعة نبوية – (ج 5 / ص 414)
وَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ ) كُلٌّ مِنْهُمَا ( بِالشِّمَالِ وَكَذَا كُلُّ مَا فِيهِ رَفْعُ أَذًى وَخَسَّةٍ ) يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ بِالشِّمَالِ كَإِلْقَاءِ نَجَاسَةٍ ( فَإِنَّ الْيَمِينَ ) لِشَرَفِهَا مُعَدَّةٌ ( لِلْأُمُورِ الشَّرِيفَةِ كَأَخْذِ الْمُصْحَفِ وَالْكُتُبِ وَالْأَكْلِ وَالشُّرْبِ ) لِقَوْلِ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا { كَانَتْ يَدُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْيُمْنَى لِطَهُورِهِ وَطَعَامِهِ وَكَانَتْ يَدُهُ الْيُسْرَى لِخَلَائِهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ أَذًى } وَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَسْتَعِينَ بِيَسَارِهِ فِي الْأَكْلِ وَغَيْرِهِ