What is the ruling on clapping, photography, and whistling that takes place in schools?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good: In some schools, clapping is frequent without need at times, as is photography. What is the ruling on that? And is it incumbent upon me to forbid it, or not? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : As for clapping for a reason, I see no harm in it, because this has become the custom, and it serves to encourage the one who achieved the matter for which they clapped. It is not a case of imitating the disbelievers, because it has now become widespread and common among Muslims. It is not included in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Anfal 8:35] because these people make their worship nothing but clapping and whistling. For this reason, He said: [Al-Anfal 8:35] Likewise, it does not fall under the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan ad-Darimi 2:175 because that is in prayer, and because a woman’s voice may lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Therefore, she was commanded that if the imam makes a mistake, she should clap and not glorify Allah, and the men were commanded to glorify Allah.
But suppose that if a person does this and claps, it angers some of the brothers present, then it is better not to do it, because unity is a required matter, and clapping is at most permissible. And if leaving it off leads to affection and love, then there is no doubt that leaving it off is required. As for whistling, I dislike it. What does it mean for a person to shout with whistling?
The questioner : Photography, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Photography.
The Shaykh : Whistling, I dislike it.
The questioner : Photography.
The Shaykh : Photography, photography also, there is no need for it. And if one takes a picture, it will be stored and kept, and keeping pictures without need is forbidden.
The questioner : They claim, O Shaykh, that this is required...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : They claim that this is required by the ministry for the sake of proof.
The Shaykh : If it is requested, then that is another matter, that is a second thing.
And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and all his Companions, and until after breaking the fast from the six, if Allah wills.
The questioner : ... in Ramadan.
The Shaykh : No, in Ramadan in the mosque, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : As for clapping for a reason, I see no harm in it, because this has become the custom, and it serves to encourage the one who achieved the matter for which they clapped. It is not a case of imitating the disbelievers, because it has now become widespread and common among Muslims. It is not included in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping
وَمَا كَانَ صَلاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةًtheir prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping
صَلاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةًIf something happens to you in your prayer, let the men say Subhan Allah and let the women clap.
إذا نابكم شيء في صلاتكم فليسبح الرجال ولتصفق النساءBut suppose that if a person does this and claps, it angers some of the brothers present, then it is better not to do it, because unity is a required matter, and clapping is at most permissible. And if leaving it off leads to affection and love, then there is no doubt that leaving it off is required. As for whistling, I dislike it. What does it mean for a person to shout with whistling?
The questioner : Photography, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Photography.
The Shaykh : Whistling, I dislike it.
The questioner : Photography.
The Shaykh : Photography, photography also, there is no need for it. And if one takes a picture, it will be stored and kept, and keeping pictures without need is forbidden.
The questioner : They claim, O Shaykh, that this is required...
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : They claim that this is required by the ministry for the sake of proof.
The Shaykh : If it is requested, then that is another matter, that is a second thing.
And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and all his Companions, and until after breaking the fast from the six, if Allah wills.
The questioner : ... in Ramadan.
The Shaykh : No, in Ramadan in the mosque, if Allah wills.