Clapping Hands at Parties
Question :
What is the ruling on men clapping hands at parties or other occasions?
Answer:
Clapping hands was a practice from the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic times); at the very least, it is Makhruh (disliked); but it appears more likely to be unlawful. This is because Muslims are forbidden from imitating the disbelievers.
Allah Almighty described the disbelievers of Makkah, saying:
"Their Salah (prayer) at the House (of Allah, the Ka'bah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands".
The scholars say that Al-Mukah as mentioned in this verse, means whistling and clapping.
The Sunnah for a believer is that when he hears or sees something he likes, he should say 'Subhanallah' or 'Allahuakbar'.
This practice is supported by many authentic Hadiths.
Clapping is legislated for women alone, when the male Imam,for example, forgets something in the prayer. They should make him aware of that mistake by clapping. Men, on the other hand, should notify him of his mistake by saying, 'Subhanallah,' a way of correction that is established in the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Thus clapping of the hands is not only a form of imitation of disbelievers, but it is also imitation of women; both kinds of imitation are forbidden. And with Allah is the facilitation to do what is right.
Source:
Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 8 Pages 267-268
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