As for those who strive in Us,
We surely guide them to Our paths (Quran)
The Fatwa of ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Bāz:
Praise be to Allaah. 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 (interpretation of the meaning): “Their Salaah (prayer) at the House (of Allaah, i.e. the Ka‘bah at Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands” [al-Anfaal 8:35] The Sunnah is, when the believer sees something that he likes or dislikes, to say ‘Subhaan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)’ or ‘Allaahu akbar (Allaah is Most Great),’ as was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in many ahaadeeth. Clapping is prescribed specifically for women if something alarms them during the prayer, or they are praying with the men and the imaam makes a mistake in the prayer. In that case they should draw his attention to that by clapping, whereas men should do so by saying ‘Subhaan Allaah’, as was narrated in the saheeh Sunnah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). From this it may be known that clapping on the part of men implies imitation of kaafirs and women, and all of that is forbidden. And Allaah is the source of strength.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz.
Original Arabic Text of the Fatwa:
س1: ما حكم التصفيق للرجال في المناسبات والاحتفالات؟ .
ج1: التصفيق في الحفلات من أعمال الجاهلية وأقل ما يقال فيه الكراهة، والأظهر في الدليل تحريمه؛ لأن المسلمين منهيون عن التشبه بالكفرة وقد قال الله سبحانه في وصف الكفار من أهل مكة {وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً} (2)
قال العلماء المكاء الصفير والتصدية التصفيق والسنة للمؤمن إذا رأى أو سمع ما يعجبه أو ما ينكره أن يقول: سبحان الله أو يقول: الله أكبر كما صح ذلك عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في أحاديث كثيرة، ويشرع التصفيق للنساء خاصة إذا نابهن شيء في الصلاة أو كن مع الرجال فسهى الإمام في الصلاة فإنه يشرع لهن التنبيه بالتصفيق أما الرجال فينبهونه بالتسبيح كما صحت بذلك السنة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وبهذا يعلم أن التصفيق من الرجال فيه تشبه بالكفرة وبالنساء وكلا ذلك منهي عنه. والله ولي التوفيق.
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(1) نشرت في فتاوى سماحته ضمن صفحة - اسألوا أهل الذكر - التي تصدر من سماحته بالمجلة العربية شهريا.
(2) سورة الأنفال الآية 35
*Source (see the scanned images): Majmū‘ fatāwá wa-maqālāt mutanawwi‘ah (Compilation of different Fatawa and articles) by ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Bāz , vol 4, Page 151.
Here is the Question and the Fatwa of Bin Baz - the late Grand Wahhabi Mufti - is presented below:
I have come heard many views that clapping is not permissible in Islaam. For example, an applause when children are performing something or any other halaal performance. Could you state whether this is true and which hadith relates to this.