Hadith Reference

Sahih al-Bukhari 1204 - Book: Actions while Praying

Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The saying 'Sub Han Allah' is for men and clapping is for women."

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes the Islamic etiquette for alerting others during prayer when necessary. For men, the prescribed method is to recite "Subhan Allah" (Glory be to Allah), as this maintains the dignity and solemnity of prayer while serving as a gentle notification.

For women, clapping is designated because their voices should not be raised unnecessarily in mixed gatherings, preserving modesty. This distinction reflects the wisdom of Islamic law in accommodating natural differences while maintaining prayer's sanctity.

Scholars explain this applies to situations requiring attention during congregational prayer, such as correcting an imam's mistake or alerting to danger, not for casual interruption.

Legal Ruling

The majority of scholars consider this ruling obligatory (wajib), not merely recommended, based on the Prophet's clear designation. Men should not clap and women should not use verbal tasbih in such situations.