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Fatwa CenterClapping hands
Question
What is the Hokum of clapping especially in a totally Islamic audience?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Generally clapping of hands could be classified in two categories:
1) Clapping during prayer to draw attention if something happens is forbidden for men and likable for women.
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "If something happens in the prayer, the man can invite the attention of the Imam by saying "Subhana Allah. Clapping of hands is meant for women" [Reported by Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
2) Clapping outside of prayer is of two kinds:
a) To clap for necessity, such as to take permission or draw attention, or when women play with children, etc., is permissible.
b) Clapping without necessity is not permitted. Some scholars even consider it forbidden and some others dislike it. The evidence is the saying of Allah: {Their Salat (prayer) at the House (of Allah, i.e. the Ka'bah at Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. …} [8: 35].
In addition, it is an act of imitating women if the clappers are men.
Allah knows best.
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