I would like to know what the ruling of the Shari'ah is, in your opinion, O honorable Shaykh, regarding standing up for a person who enters as a sign of respect for him and his status?
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The questioner : I would like to know what the ruling of the Shari'ah is, in your opinion, O honorable Shaykh, regarding standing up for a person who enters as a sign of respect for him and his status?
The Shaykh : Standing up for a person who enters as a sign of respect for him and his status is permissible, provided that this person is worthy of honor and respect. However, if he is not worthy, it is not permissible to stand up for him. Also, when we say it is permissible, that does not mean that standing up and not standing up are the same, nor do we intend to say that they are equal; rather, not standing up is preferable.
The people’s practice of not standing up is better, because this was the known custom in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Indeed, the most honored of creation, meaning the one most worthy of respect, is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and yet:. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up for the delegation of Thaqif when they came to him, and this indicates that standing up in its proper place is not a problem. But without a reason, it is better to leave it. So if people were accustomed to not standing up, that would be better. But because people are now afflicted with standing up, and if a person enters and they do not stand up for him, while he is worthy of them standing up for him, he may feel in his heart that these people have diminished his right, so there is no harm in standing up in that case.
As for standing up over a person, and this is not standing up for him, but standing up over him, meaning that he is sitting and someone stands over him to honor him, this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, and he said:, except if there is a benefit or a need. One of the benefits is that it may be to annoy the disbelievers, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did when they stood up over the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the correspondence between him and Quraysh during the 'Umrah of al-Hudaybiyyah. Indeed, al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) was standing over the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with a sword in his hand. Or if the standing up is out of fear of a fitnah or evil occurring, then this is also not a problem.
And if the situation is safe and there is no benefit of annoying the disbelievers, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade standing up over a man.
As for standing up toward a person, meaning greeting him when he enters, this is a matter that may be commanded if the person entering is worthy of it. So if a person takes a few steps forward to greet the person entering, this is standing up toward him, and there is no harm in it. And this occurred in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not disapprove of it.
This is regarding the one who stands up. As for the one for whom people stand up, it should never be that a person likes for people to stand up for him. Rather, a person should be humble, seeing himself as equal to his brothers, having no right over them. And the best of creation, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), when he entered, would sit wherever the gathering ended, so a person should not consider himself worthy of people standing up for him, or have something in his heart if people do not stand up for him.
As for the one who likes for people to stand up for him and stand up over him, a warning has come from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 5229Sahih (Al-Albani).
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have explained to us and to our honorable listening brothers. Our honorable brothers, the one who answered your questions is the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, the professor at the College of Sharia in al-Qasim, and the preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in al-Unayzah. Thank you, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : Standing up for a person who enters as a sign of respect for him and his status is permissible, provided that this person is worthy of honor and respect. However, if he is not worthy, it is not permissible to stand up for him. Also, when we say it is permissible, that does not mean that standing up and not standing up are the same, nor do we intend to say that they are equal; rather, not standing up is preferable.
The people’s practice of not standing up is better, because this was the known custom in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Indeed, the most honored of creation, meaning the one most worthy of respect, is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and yet:
For when he entered upon his Companions, they did not stand up for him because of what they knew of his dislike of that.
فإنه إذا دخل على أصحابه لا يقومون له لما يعلمون من كراهته لذلكAs for standing up over a person, and this is not standing up for him, but standing up over him, meaning that he is sitting and someone stands over him to honor him, this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade, and he said:
Do not stand up as the non-Arabs stand up over their chiefs.
لا تقوموا كما تقوم الأعاجم على _ أظنه قال _ رغمائهاAnd if the situation is safe and there is no benefit of annoying the disbelievers, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade standing up over a man.
As for standing up toward a person, meaning greeting him when he enters, this is a matter that may be commanded if the person entering is worthy of it. So if a person takes a few steps forward to greet the person entering, this is standing up toward him, and there is no harm in it. And this occurred in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not disapprove of it.
This is regarding the one who stands up. As for the one for whom people stand up, it should never be that a person likes for people to stand up for him. Rather, a person should be humble, seeing himself as equal to his brothers, having no right over them. And the best of creation, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), when he entered, would sit wherever the gathering ended, so a person should not consider himself worthy of people standing up for him, or have something in his heart if people do not stand up for him.
As for the one who likes for people to stand up for him and stand up over him, a warning has come from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
Let him who likes people to stand up before him prepare his place in Hell.
من أحب أن يتمثل الناس له قياماً فليتبوأ مقعده من النارThe questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have explained to us and to our honorable listening brothers. Our honorable brothers, the one who answered your questions is the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, the professor at the College of Sharia in al-Qasim, and the preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in al-Unayzah. Thank you, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.