What is the ruling on clapping in parties?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on clapping in parties? I ask the honorable Shaykh for an answer.
The Shaykh : Clapping in parties is not the custom of the righteous Salaf. Rather, when they liked something, they would sometimes glorify Allah or sometimes say Allahu Akbar, but they did not say Allahu Akbar in a collective manner or glorify Allah in a collective manner. Rather, each person would say Allahu Akbar for himself or glorify Allah for himself without raising his voice so that those near him could hear it. It is better to refrain from this, meaning from clapping, but we do not say that it is forbidden, because it has become widespread among Muslims today, and people do not take it as an act of worship. Therefore, it is not correct to cite the prohibition of it by the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding the polytheists:[Al-Anfal 8:35]. The polytheists took clapping at the House as an act of worship, whereas those who clap upon hearing what they like or seeing what they like do not intend worship by it.
In summary: leaving off this clapping is better and more excellent, but it is not forbidden.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Clapping in parties is not the custom of the righteous Salaf. Rather, when they liked something, they would sometimes glorify Allah or sometimes say Allahu Akbar, but they did not say Allahu Akbar in a collective manner or glorify Allah in a collective manner. Rather, each person would say Allahu Akbar for himself or glorify Allah for himself without raising his voice so that those near him could hear it. It is better to refrain from this, meaning from clapping, but we do not say that it is forbidden, because it has become widespread among Muslims today, and people do not take it as an act of worship. Therefore, it is not correct to cite the prohibition of it by the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding the polytheists:
And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping
وَمَا كَانَ صَلاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةًIn summary: leaving off this clapping is better and more excellent, but it is not forbidden.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.