What is the legal status of clapping hands according to the Shariah?
Clapping hands is not allowed in Islam. It is an act of the non-Muslims.
In the days of Jahaliyyah, the Kuffaar would get naked and dance around the Holy Ka’bah clapping their hands.
Allah says,
وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُہُمۡ عِندَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ إِلَّا مُڪَآءً۬ وَتَصۡدِيَةً۬ۚ فَذُوقُواْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ
“Their prayer at the House (of Allah) is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. Taste ye the penalty because ye blasphemed.”
[Surah Al-Anfal – 35]
Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (رحمة الله عليه) writes, “Clapping the hands is not allowed and it is prohibited. In (Fatawa) Shami it is stated under the statement of Shareh (i.e. Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him)):
کرہ کل لھو بقولہ علیہ الصلٰوۃ والسلام کل لھو المسلم حرام الا ثلٰثۃ(؎ درمختار کتاب الحظروالاباحۃ فصل فی البیع مطبع مجتبائی دہلی ۲/۲۴۸
every game is disliked because of the saying of Prophet (peace be upon him) that ‘ every game is prohibited for Muslims except three”
Allama Quhstani wrote:
الاطلاق شامل لنفس الفعل واستماعہ کالرقص والسخریۃ والتصفیق فانھا کلہا مکروھۃ لانھا زی الکفار۲؎ اھ مختصراً(؎ ردالمحتار کتاب الحظروالاباحۃ فصل فی البیع داراحیاء التراث العربی بیروت ۵/ ۲۵۳)
The unconditional statement of the Prophet (that all games are prohibited for Muslims except three) includes the person who does it and the person who listens to it (or watches it) like dancing, joking, and clapping hands, because these all acts are makruh and habits of the non-Mmuslims.
[Fatawa Ridawiyyah vol 24]
Allah knows best.
Answered by Mawlana Mohammed Kashif
