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The Islamic Verdict on Clapping
Source: www.ummah.com>forum>learning about Islam
This Article explains the Verdict on Clapping in Islam. This is an important issue to be addressed because many Muslim of nowadays does not really understand the real concept of this issue and do not known the view of Islam towards this matter. This article is very interesting, kindly get something to sit on and read it thoroughly. Happy reading:
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]
I
bn 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.
Wa Sallam aleikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu..
Source: www.ummah.com>forum>learning about Islam
This Article explains the Verdict on Clapping in Islam. This is an important issue to be addressed because many Muslim of nowadays does not really understand the real concept of this issue and do not known the view of Islam towards this matter. This article is very interesting, kindly get something to sit on and read it thoroughly. Happy reading:
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]
I
bn 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.
Wa Sallam aleikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu..
