Question :
A question was asked regarding [the validity of] ululating and clapping hands at weddings.
Fatwa in Brief: Ululation is not permitted
because a woman’s voice should not be heard by men,
other than by her husband and those within her immediate
family [literally, her voice is “‘awra”]. In
contrast, clapping is permitted to women, when they need
to draw men’s attention [for any reason].
Shaykh Ibn Jebrin
Response:
A woman’s voice may be heard by men other than her
husband and those belonging to her immediate family
[thus it is not “‘awra”]. Ululation is permitted
if it is done in a way that is not intended to seduce
men; [and thus] it is least problematic when it occurs
in the company of women. Clapping is not an act of
worship; it is not a means of drawing closer to God; and
there is no prohibition against it.
Commentary:
The question of whether or not it is permitted for women
to ululate at weddings is permitted on the basis of the
same legal principles that allow her to sing [at
weddings]. When it is not affected or intended to
seduce, a woman’s voice is not “‘awra” [see
immediately above for definition]. Ululations are
permitted, especially if they occur between women and
are not heard by men unknown to the women. However, if
the tone of the ululation is intended to provoke a man
[to lust], it is not permitted.
Regarding clapping, God says about non-Muslims (kuffar):
“… their prayers… was but whistling and … clapping”.
(Q. 6: 35)
And, the people of Quraysh used to circumambulate the
Ka‘ba naked, whistling and clapping. [At the time] They
believed such acts allowed them to draw near to their
gods. The clapping mentioned here, however, does not
relate to people trying to draw near to, or worship,
God. Rather, in these cases, such acts are mere
traditions, or customs, by which some people express
themselves. And there is nothing in the law that
prevents such expressions. Despite this, however, it is
better that such acts [clapping, ululating] do not
happen in parties in mosques. This is a sign that
Muslims wish to avoid imitating the non-believers in
their rituals.
According to the Fatwa Centre, under the Supervision
of Dr. ‘Abdullah al-Faqih:
Scholars disagree regarding the validity of ululating
[in Islam]. Such disagreements arise from [a variety of]
contrasting opinions regarding the legal status of a
woman’s voice, and whether or not this [the voice]
constitutes a form of ‘awra. The preferred
opinion [here] is that it is not ‘awra. Thus,
ululating is permitted, providing that there is no
danger that it may seduce or stir the lusts of men.
And God knows best.
Dr. Anas Abu Shadi