Question: I asked our Shaikh about the action of the people of preferring those on the right side to enter [thorough a door etc.] before others?
Answer: The Shaikh said that he does not know anything on that subject. Then he said, if only they preferred those who are older in age [i.e. that is better] based on the hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ):
كَبِّرْ كَبِّرْ
“Let the older one speak. Let the older on speak”.
[Agreed upon]
[Taken from: Masaail Abi Umar as-Sadhaan li Imaam Abdul Aziz bin Baz pg. 28]
Translator’s Note: It is preferable for the one who is older to precede while entering. This was the practice of some of the Salaf.
مَالِكَ بْنَ مِغْوَلٍ ، يَقُولُ : مَشَيْتُ مَعَ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ مُصَرِّفٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى زُقَاقٍ ضَيِّقٍ ، فَتَخَلَّفْتُ وَتَقَدَّمَ طَلْحَةُ ، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ وَقَالَ : ” لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ أَكْبَرُ مِنِّي بِيَوْمٍ أَوْ لَيْلَةٍ مَا تَقَدَّمْتُ
Malik ibn Miqhwal said: I walked with Talha ibn Mussarif until we reached a narrow alley/path. So I went behind and preferred Talha to precede. So he turned to me and said: “If I knew you were older than me by one day or night, I would not precede you”
[Reported by al-Kharaaiti in Makaarim ul-Akhlaaq no. 365 and the Muhaqiq of the book, Abdullah ibn Bajaash, graded it Saheeh pg. 633]
And Allah knows best
Translated by
Faisal ibn Abdul Qaadir ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
