Is it permitted to clap during gatherings?

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Yes, this is allowed, potentially desirable, when it serves a purpose. For no purpose, our scholars differ as to whether it is prohibited or disliked.

Explanation

Imam al-Bukhari (d.256AH), may Allah have mercy on him, reports in his Sahih (1/606/no.1203),

عن أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عن النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قالَ: التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجالِ، والتَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّساءِ.

“From Abu Hurairah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Tasbeeh (saying ‘SubhanAllah’) is for men, and clapping is for women.”

This narration brings to light the legislation of clapping within prayer, and this reports highlights that clapping is reserved for women whereas men are to do Tasbih. This is to be done when the imam makes a mistake in the prayer. Now, our Shafi’i scholars have discussed the matter of clapping in detail and as the question pertains specifically to clapping outside the prayer, we shall see what our scholars have said regarding this matter.

Shaykh Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (d.974AH), may Allah have mercy on him, states in Tuhfah’ul-muhtaj (2/149),

وفي تحريم ضرب البطن خارج الصلاة وجهان لأصحابنا

“In the prohibition of striking palm to palm outside of prayer, our Ashab scholars have two perspectives.”

Shaykh ‘Abdul-Hamid ash-Sharwani (d.1301), may Allah have mercy on him, in his sub-commentary to Tuhfah’ul-muhtaj explains the two perspectives as follows,

“Statement: Two Opinions (Wajhan)

Zarkashi favored the opinion of prohibition, and this is the adopted view as noted in the margin. It should [however] be limited to cases where there is no need for it, such as when someone needs to call out to a person who is far away. This agrees with what “M R” [Mohammed ar-Ramli] stated. In the “Fatwas of M R,” he was asked about clapping outside of prayer without a need, and he responded that if a man intends amusement or imitation of women, it is prohibited; otherwise, it is disliked.

And the phrase in “H J” [Ibn Hajar al-Haytami] in the explanation of “Irshad” states that the most correct view is that it is disliked to strike with a stick on cushions. From this, it is inferred that it is permissible to clap one palm against the other, even with the intention of play, even if it involves some form of entertainment. Then, I saw that Al-Mawardi, Al-Shashi, and the authors of “Al-Istiqsa” and “Al-Kafi” included this in what came before, which clearly indicates what I mentioned and that it falls under the same disagreement as with the stick, and the more correct view is permissibility, so this would be the same. End of quote from “‘Ayn Sh” [Ali ash-Shabramallisi].”

Shaykh Ibrahim al-Bajuri (d.1276AH), may Allah have mercy on him, summarises in the sub-commentary on Shaykh Ibn Qasim al-Ghazzi’s commentary on Matn Abi’ Shuja’ the details on the ruling aforementioned in the abstract above in a clear and succinct manner,

“The scholars have differed regarding clapping outside of prayer:

Some say it is prohibited with the intention of play and disliked without the intention of play; this is the relied-upon view according to Al-Ramli.

Others say it is disliked even with the intention of play, even if there is a type of enjoyment involved; this is the relied-upon view according to Ibn Hajar in              “Sharh al-Irshad.”

Another opinion states that it is prohibited if the intention is to imitate women, as this is one of their characteristics; otherwise, it is disliked.

All of this applies when there is no need for clapping.

If clapping is needed to stimulate remembrance, as practiced by some ascetics, or to maintain rhythm, as done by jurists during certain nights, or for teaching purposes, as done by teachers during lessons, then it is not prohibited and may even be considered desirable.”

In addition, Shaykh Sulayman al-Jamal (d.1204), may Allah have mercy on him, states in Futuhat’il-Wahhab bitawdih sharh Manhaj’ul-tullab (1/432),

وَرَأَيْت بِهَامِشِ شَرْحِ الْمَنْهَجِ مَا نَصُّهُ وَأَفْتَى شَيْخُنَا ابْنُ الرَّمْلِيِّ بِأَنَّهُ لَا يَحْرُمُ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَقْصِدْ بِهِ اللَّعِبَ اهـ أَقُولُ: وَقَوْلُهُ فِي صَدْرِ هَذِهِ الْقَوْلَةِ وَهُوَ الْمُعْتَمَدُ ظَاهِرُهُ وَإِنْ اُحْتِيجَ إلَيْهِ لِتَحْسِينِ صِنَاعَةٍ مِنْ إنْشَادٍ وَنَحْوِهِ وَمِنْهُ مَا تَفْعَلُهُ النِّسَاءُ عِنْدَ مُلَاعَبَةِ أَوْلَادِهِنَّ اهـ ع ش عَلَى م ر.

“The margin of “Sharh al-Minhaj” states: “Our Shaykh, Ibn al-Ramli, issued a fatwa that clapping is not prohibited if it is not intended for play.”

I [al-Jamal] say: “His statement at the beginning of this section, ‘and this is the relied-upon view,’ implies that if clapping is needed to enhance a craft, such as singing and similar activities, it is permissible. This also includes what women do when playing with their children.” End quote from the commentary of Ali Shabramallisi on Ibn al-Ramli.”

We have gathered from the texts of our respected scholars that clapping with no purpose or out of play is either prohibited (Imam ar-Ramli) or disliked (Ibn Hajar). If, however there is a purpose, such as in gatherings of remembrance for a rhythm or stimulating the audience, then it is most certainly not prohibited; rather, it could even be seen as praiseworthy.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Mohammed Jamili (05.10.24)