Firstly, our opinion on music and singing is well-known, which is that there is no evidence from the Quran or Sunnah that prohibits or forbids them. Instead, the evidence indicates their permissibility and legality, and the fact that adhering to the principle of permissibility is sufficient. What prevents singing is the reason behind it and not because it is inherently forbidden.
Secondly, dancing, as movements that resemble sports and rhythm, is not inherently forbidden, and there is no evidence to prohibit it. The evidence for that is what is mentioned in the authentic Hadiths, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood up to cover Aisha while she was watching the Abyssinians playing and dancing and this happened in the mosque. If it were forbidden, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have prevented them, but instead, when Omar ibn Al-Khattab prohibited them, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered him to leave them alone.
The majority of scholars consider dancing to be disliked (makruh) without being prohibited. It is mentioned in the Fiqh Encyclopedia that the Hanafis, Malikis, Hanbalis, and a group of Shafi’is consider dancing to be disliked, stating that it is a base and foolish act, a loss of dignity, and a form of frivolity. Al-Abi said that the scholars used the Hadith of the Abyssinians’ dancing and playing with their weapons to support their view that dancing is disliked. This is in accordance with what was narrated in a Hadith that they were playing near the Prophet (peace be upon him) with their weapons.
All of this is valid as long as there is no accompanying forbidden act, such as drinking alcohol, or exposing one’s nakedness, or anything similar that would make it prohibited by consensus.
The narration from the encyclopedia has ended, but dancing may still be prohibited for other reasons. For example, if a man’s dancing resembles the typical dancing of women or if he behaves in a lewd manner, as is done by those who engage in indecency and sin. However, if the dancing is like the dancing that takes place in the countryside of Egypt or the Dabke dance of the Levant and Palestine or the dances of men in Morocco and the Gulf, then there is no harm in it. In fact, it is recommended in situations where expressing joy is appropriate, such as weddings, holidays, national celebrations, and so on.
As for the question about women dancing in front of men who are not their mahrams, no one permits this, even if it is done with the intention mentioned in the question. It is preferable to replace it with men’s dancing or to have the celebration entirely for women.
And Allah knows best.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr