4/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 421 — Starting with the Right Side
Starting With The Right When Purifying Oneself
Hadith About Starting with the Right Side in Islam
Sunan an-Nasai : 421
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 421
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّعْثَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُحِبُّ التَّيَمُّنَ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ فِي طُهُورِهِ وَتَنَعُّلِهِ وَتَرَجُّلِهِ وَقَالَ بِوَاسِطٍ فِي شَأْنِهِ كُلِّهِ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to like to start with the right as much as he could when purifying himself, putting on sandals and combing his hair" - and he (the narrator) said in Wasit (a place in Iraq): "And in all his affairs."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 421In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 421
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 421
This Hadith about starting with the right side shows a simple daily habit of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Aishah said that he loved to begin with the right as much as he could when purifying himself, putting on sandals, and combing his hair. Another wording adds that this applied to all his affairs. The main lesson is not about making life hard. It shows care, order, and love for the Sunnah in small actions. A Muslim reading this Hadith can see that Islamic manners are not limited to prayer only. Even personal cleanliness, dressing, and grooming can become acts done with good manners when they follow the Prophet’s example.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) liked beginning with the right side when he was able.
- Purification, wearing sandals, and combing hair can reflect Prophetic manners.
- Small daily actions can be shaped by love for the Sunnah.
- The Hadith teaches order and care without adding hardship.
