The Islamic Verdict on Clapping

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) forbade us from imitating the kuffaar (disbelievers) in their worship, traditions, customs, rituals, ceremonies, events and practices. Muhammad (saw) said, 'whosoever imitates a people he is one of them' [Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad].

Today the reality of clapping hands has become a norm. We witness children applauding audiences at schools all the way to "bravoing" speeches conducted in temples and houses of parliament. However in the days of Jaahiliyyah (ignorant pre-Islamic times) clapping was regarded as a ritual action performed as a gesture to please the gods. This change from a religiously based act to a customary habit has not altered the general Islamic verdict on clapping it is forbidden to clap. Allah (swt) says:

"Their (Quraysh) prayer (Salaah) in the house (of Allaah - Kabah in Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping (of hands). (Its only answer can be), Taste the penalty because you disbelieved." [EMQ al-Anfaal, 8: 35]

Tafseer (Qur'aanic commentary and explanation) on this verse by as-Salaf us-Saalih (the pious predecessors); Abdullaah bin 'Abbaas, Abdullaah bin 'Umar, Atiyyah, Mujaahid, Ad-Dahhaak, Hassan and Qataadah (ra) all state that the word Tasdiyyah in the above verse means clapping the hands. A note worth mentioning here is that the Salaf us-Saalih are the best people to understand the Wahy (Divine Revelation Qur'aan and Sunnah) and they are our Islamic benchmark.

Clapping during parties is one of the actions of jaahiliyyah. The least that can be said about it is that it is makrooh (disliked), but the evidence suggests rather that it is haraam, because the Muslims are not allowed to resemble the kuffaar. Allah says describing the kuffaar of Makkah (

It has been authentically narrated that Hassaan bin Thaabit (ra) used his articulate poetic skills to dispraise the idolaters of Makkah by saying whenever you pray you clap and whistle.

Shaykh al-Islam said in al-Fataawa (11/569) I know that in the golden age, the first and best three centuries, in the Hijaaz, in Syria, in the Yemen, in Egypt, in the Maghreb, in Iraq, in khorasan, none of the religious and righteous people, the ascetics and those who worshipped Allaah much, would gather to listen to this whistling and clapping and drum-beating and so on. This was innovated after that at the end of the second century, and whenever the imaams saw it, they denounced it.

It is proven from the Sharee'ah that it is forbidden for Muslims to imitate the kuffaar in their Ibaadah (ritual acts) even if it is intended for a different purpose. Therefore the Muslims are not allowed to clap their hands even if it is for amusement purposes, encouragement or just playing a game. Sheikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said whatever the mushriks (polytheists) do whether ritually or customarily it is forbidden to do that same action even if the Muslims do it for another reason (i.e. not for the same purpose). [Al-Iqtidaa volume 1, p196]

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah said clapping is haraam (forbidden) and munkar (evil); by practising it you come out of the Fitrah (natural disposition) and you imitate the kuffaar, all of which Allaah (swt) dispraises, and he quotes al-Anfaal, 8: 35 to prove his case. [Talbees ul-Iblees volume 1, p316]

Abu Umaamah al-Baheeli reported that the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said, 'The people of Loot (as) had ten characteristics; among those ten were clapping and whistling.' [Ibn Asaakir in his Taareekh volume 50, verse 321]. Imaam 'Ali, Qataadah and Hassan (ra) also testify to this.

This hukm (Islamic rule) on clapping applies to both men and women. However some people try to restrict the ruling of clapping as being forbidden for men only in Salaah. Based on an incident where the Sahaabah (ra) of the Prophet (saw) clapped during prayer to attract the attention of Abu Bakr (ra). After the Salaah Muhammad (saw) said, 'The saying Subhaan-Allaah is for men and clapping is for women' [Saheeh al-Bukhaari]. This view is incorrect because if one claims that clapping is not allowed only in Salaah then you need to bring further evidence to say that this only applies in Salaah and not in any other sphere of life; bearing in mind the generality of the evidences consulted above.

Amongst the 'Ulamaa (Islamic scholars of jurisprudence) there is dispute on what constitutes clapping for the women during Salaah, some say it is clapping the thighs with hands, or clapping the palm of one hand against the back of the other hand; the latter being the stronger opinion. However in any case there is evidence to substantiate that women clapped outside of Salaah and Muhammad (saw) criticised them.