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Raqs (dancing): its ruling, its conditions, the dancer's testimony, and the hire for it

الرقص

Raqs (dancing) in the lexicon is quick movement and agitation; technically it is swaying, bowing and rising in measured motions. 1 Those who allow it cite the hadith of the Abyssinians who played with their spears in the Prophet ﷺ's mosque; the Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis dislike it as baseness, folly and a loss of manly dignity, and Ibn Taymiyya forbids making it a worship. 1 2 It is forbidden when accompanied by something unlawful, such as drinking or exposing the private parts, and the Shafi'is allow it only where it is fitting and free of affectation. 2 The testimony of a dancer is rejected for loss of manly dignity; the Shafi'is and Hanbalis count habitual and frequent dancing. 2 3 Hiring someone to dance follows its ruling: if the dance is forbidden the hire is forbidden. 3

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it

Ethics and characterHalal and haram

Summary

Raqs (dancing) in the lexicon is quick movement and agitation; technically it is swaying, bowing and rising in measured motions. 1 Those who allow it cite the hadith of the Abyssinians who played with their spears in the Prophet's mosque; the Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis dislike it as baseness, folly and a loss of manly dignity, and Ibn Taymiyya forbids making it a worship. 1 2 It is forbidden when accompanied by something unlawful, such as drinking or exposing the private parts, and the Shafi'is allow it only where it is fitting and free of affectation. 2 The testimony of a dancer is rejected for loss of manly dignity; the Shafi'is and Hanbalis count habitual and frequent dancing. 2 3 Hiring someone to dance follows its ruling: if the dance is forbidden the hire is forbidden. 3

People and things also explored

Naw' (kind or species, and its effect on zakat and exchange)· Sawm (pasturing livestock, and bidding in sale)· Shariid (a strayed animal, and its sale, hire and slaughter)· Shubha (doubt that averts a penalty, and avoiding doubtful matters)· Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)· Ada' al-shahada (performing testimony: the duty on request, the excused witness, and the wording)· Manners of the Qur'an bearer· Biting and the liability for injury it causes (add)

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.8855
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.8856
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.8857
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Raqs (dancing): its ruling, its conditions, the dancer's testimony, and the hire for it”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/raqs-fiqh/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Naw' (kind or species, and its effect on zakat and exchange)

Naw' in the lexical sense is a kind or class; the Jurist al-Jurjani defined it as a term for many different things by their individuals. Kind matters for zakat: if the animals are of one kind, the zakat is taken from that kind; most jurists allow substituting a sheep for a goat and the reverse, taking value into account, while the Hanafis require the same kind. If the kinds differ, the Hanbalis and the sounder Shafi'i view let the owner give what he chooses, proportioned by value, while the Hanafis join the kinds together. For crops and fruit, kinds are joined to complete the threshold; joining gold and silver is disputed. The exchange of ribawi goods of different kinds is referred to the chapter on usury.