Is Dancing Haram?

Is Dancing Haram? Dance is haram in Islam because it refers to a rhythmic movement of the body for amusement and includes haram acts such as listening to music and removing the hijab.

Is Dancing Haram In Islam?

There is no verse in the Quran where Allah prohibited dancing and I haven’t found any hadith related to dancing but dancing is generally done for others to watch and involves many haram acts it’s considered haram in Islam by all the major Islamic scholars.

The first reason is that the hijab will be exposed. If a person dances the normal guidelines of the clothing are negated. Anyone dancing must have a viewer or more. Any dance will require you to showcase your body parts to strangers that were supposed to be hidden and to be seen by your Mahram.

Secondly, the reason will be music. As a general rule music is haram in Islam. Any dance done will require any sort of music in order to be performed. Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) has prohibited all musical instruments except duff.

Thirdly the reason is that dance will get a person away from Islam and the teachings of Islam. Any person who dances won’t have his or her mind with Allah or God. Dance is something that takes a person away from religion.

There is also an issue with dancing is the mingling of non-Mahrams which is totally prohibited in Islam. I also believe that dancing degrades a person from the status that Allah has bestowed upon them.

Any person dancing becomes someone who pleases others. We are only created to please Allah alone.

Men and women are not permitted to dance in front of others at mixed gatherings where men and women are seated together. Some people believe it is acceptable for men to dance in front of women. However, it is prohibited for a man to dance.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

Dancing is makrooh in principle, but if it is done in the western manner or in imitation of the kaafir women, then it becomes haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Moreover it sometimes leads to fitnah, because the dancer may be a young, beautiful woman, so the other women are tempted. Even if she is among other women, the other women may do things that indicate that they are temped by her. And whatever is a cause of fitnah is not allowed.

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Dancing by women is an evil act, and we cannot justify it, because we have heard of instances in which it has caused incidents among women. Especially when men do it because it is men imitating women.

Despite differing opinions and rulings on the subject, most scholars agree that dancing to entertain an audience and dancing to elicit any type of sexual response is prohibited.

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Is Belly Dancing Haram?

Belly dancing is haram in Islam except if it’s done only for one’s husband behind closed doors and no music is involved. All the same rulings of dancing will be applied to belly dancing as well.

Is Doing Ballet Haram?

Ballet is haram in Islam except if it’s done only for one’s husband behind closed doors and no music is involved. All the same rulings of dancing will be applied to ballet as well.

Can I Dance With A Girl In Islam?

Dancing with a girl is only allowed if you are her husband and no haram acts are involved like music or alcohol. If you are a non-Mahram then dancing with her is haram.

READ NEXT: Is Acting Haram?

Final Thoughts

Dancing is generally considered haram in Islam as it involves many haram acts and invites many sins towards the dancer. Dance needs music that is haram in Islam. Then dance is done for someone else so it’s like pleasing someone other usually non-Mahrams again haram.

Finally, dance takes you away from religion and degrades you from the status we were born as human beings.

And Allah Knows Best.