Q: Nowadays Muslims and non Muslims clap their hands. It has become a norm in society, if we are listening to a speech of a non Muslim or a Muslim in a public hall where non Muslims are also present and they all clap hands after a good speech. Will it be permissible to join them clapping hands, because if we don't clap the hands they assume that we didn't like the speech and then looked down upon?
A: Clapping the hands in order to praise or applaud someone is among the ways of the kuffaar which is totally foreign to Islam. As Muslims we are commanded to refrain from adopting the ways, mannerisms and culture of the kuffaar. Hence without a valid need, Muslims should not interact with non-Muslims nor befriend them. They have their own value system (i.e. extravagance, immodesty, shamelessness, etc.) and we have our own value system with which we have been endowed and enriched with by Allah Ta'ala (i.e. purity, chastity, modesty, simplicity, etc). We have been favoured with the Mubaarak lifestyle of Hazrat Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) which provides direction and guidance for us in every facet of our lives. Associating with the kuffaar and befriending them is sure to leave its effects and erode the values of a Muslim. The Qur'an emphatically instructs the believers to refrain from befriending the kuffaar. Allah Ta'ala says:
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ
The believers should not take the disbelievers as friends.
In another verse of the Qur'an Allah Ta'ala forwarns us of their aim and hidden agenda:
وَلَن تَرْضَىٰ عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلَا النَّصَارَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللَّـهِ هُوَ الْهُدَىٰ وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّـهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ﴿البقرة: ١٢٠﴾
The Jews and the Christians will never be pleased and satisfied with you until and unless you begin to follow their way of life and their religion. Say (O Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam): "The Guidance of Allah Ta'ala is the only Guidance." If you ever follow their desires after the truth and divine knowledge has come to you then you would not find any protector nor helper who will save you against the punishment of Allah Ta'ala.
Hence we understand that success and true salvation lies in following the Mubaarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and abandoning the ways of the kuffaar.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ ٱلْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَآءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ ﴿الأنفال:٣٥﴾
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