[Q 255] Islamic perspective of clapping

Question

Is it permitted to clap?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Clapping should be avoided because clapping is mentioned in the Holy Quran as a practice of non-Muslims.

In Surah Anfal, verse 35, Allah عزوجل says:

‎وَ مَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَیْتِ اِلَّا مُكَآءً وَّ تَصْدِیَةًؕ-فَذُوْقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْفُرُوْنَ

Translation:

“And their prayer near the ˹Sacred˺ House was nothing but whistling and clapping; so taste punishment due to your disbelief.”

Under this verse, it is mentioned in Tafsir Kabir 5/481 that:

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (رضي الله عنه) says that the infidels of Quraysh used to circumambulate the Kaaba naked and whistle and clap. This act of theirs was either due to the false belief that whistling and clapping is worship, or due to the mischief that their noise would disturb the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer.

Some scholars have also declared clapping to be impermissible, as is mentioned in Bahar Shariat.

{Bahar Shariat, Volume 3, Part 16, Page 511}

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Usman Attari