Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The tasbih is for men and clapping is for women."

Reference

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1210 | The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

Commentary

This hadith establishes the proper method for alerting the Imam during prayer when an error occurs. Tasbih refers to saying "Subhanallah" (Glory be to Allah), which is prescribed for men. Clapping, by striking the palm of one hand against the other, is designated for women.

The wisdom behind this distinction lies in preserving modesty and avoiding imitation between genders. Men's voices are generally louder and more effective for alerting, while clapping suffices for women and prevents unnecessary raising of voices during prayer, which is a state of devotion and humility.

Scholars explain this ruling applies specifically during salah when needing to correct the Imam or draw attention to a mistake. Outside prayer, different rules govern interaction between genders.

Legal Ruling

It is makruh (disliked) for men to clap during prayer when they should use tasbih, and for women to use tasbih when they should clap. Each gender should adhere to their designated method as established by this Prophetic guidance.