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Fatwa CenterWomen clapping their hands
Question
What is the rule about clapping the hands for women?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The rule of women clapping their hands depends on the reason for this clapping. It can be, for instance, to attract the Imam's attention for an omission or an addition in the prayer. It can also be to animate a given celebration.
The scholars differ over the issue of how women should attract the Imam's attention. Is it by clapping their hands or other means? The prevailing opinion and the one that the majority of the scholars believe is that women should clap hands to draw the Imam's attention.
Imams Al Bukhari and Muslim reported from Abu Huraira that he narrated that the Prophet said: "The Tasbeeh (saying Subhana Allah in the prayer) is for men and the clapping of the hands (in the prayer) is for women". Sahl Ibn Saad narrated that the Prophet said: "If something comes to you while praying, the men should say: "Subhana Allah", the women clap their hands" [Abu Dawood and Darimi].
As for the clapping that women do during the celebrations, it is lawful provided that the celebration itself is lawful and the clapping is not accompanied by something forbidden.
Allah knows best.
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