What is the ruling on standing up for those in positions of authority?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. We have a custom where, when people are sitting, if someone in a position of authority enters, they all stand up until he sits down. Is this action permissible?

Answer:
Standing up to show him respect is not permissible. However, standing up to greet him is fine. There is no harm in that. But standing up for him without a greeting is not permissible. There is a difference between standing up to him, standing up for him, and standing up over him. If it is for a need, such as guarding, there is no harm. But if it is not for guarding, but rather for the sake of exalting him, then it is not permissible, because it is the practice of the non-Arabs.
Yes. So we have three things. Standing up for him. This is not permissible. Standing up to him. This is permissible, for the sake of greeting him, or for the sake of taking his hand to a place.
Or, for example, to help him get down from a mount or a car if he is unable to do so. This is standing up to him, and there is no harm in it. "Stand up for your master," as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said. And we have standing up over him while he is sitting. If this is for a need, such as guarding, there is no harm. But if it is in the category of exalting him, then it is not permissible. Yes.