WHISTLING

Arabic mukāʾ ( مكاء‎ ). Mentioned in the Qurʾān, Sūrah viii. 35 : “Their (the Quraish) prayer at the House was naught but whistling and clapping hands! Taste, then, the torment, for that ye misbelieve.” From which it is understood that whistling was one of the idolatrous ceremonies in the days of ignorance in the Makkan temple. Whistling is therefore generally held to be unlawful for pious Muslims.