He asks in his question: What is the ruling in Islam regarding standing up for a person who arrives?
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The questioner : He asks in his first question: What is the ruling in Islam regarding standing up for a person who arrives?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Standing up for a person who arrives is permissible, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that when the delegation of Thaqif came to him, he stood up (peace and blessings be upon him). This indicates that there is no harm in standing up for a person who arrives.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is especially the case if leaving it off would result in harm, such that the arriving person thinks he has not been honored by the fact that one did not stand up for him, because people have become accustomed to the fact that a person is honored when he arrives by standing up for him. As for standing up to a person, it is also permissible, in the sense that a person stands up and takes a few steps facing the arriving person. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Ansar: meaning Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, when he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for the arbitration in the matter of Banu Qurayzah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for standing over a man, standing above him, it is prohibited, even in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 607Sahih (Al-Albani) so that the standing of the followers behind the imam does not resemble the practice of the non-Arabs who stand over their kings. Therefore, one does not stand over a man unless there is a benefit for Islam in doing so, or fear for the one over whom one is standing. If there is a benefit for Islam in it, there is no blame in it, because al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) was standing over the head of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the Battle of al-Hudaybiyyah when the envoys of Quraysh were coming to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So al-Mughirah was standing over his head with a sword, in reverence for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And in exalting Islam and the Muslims. And if the one over whom one is standing is feared for, there is no blame in that either, due to the presence of the cause that prevents the fear of imitating the non-Arabs. Then, in it there is the repelling of a great harm that is feared. These are three matters: standing up for a man, standing up to a man, and standing over a man. Standing up to a man is permissible, even though it should not be the custom of people. But as long as they have become accustomed to it, there is no harm in it, since there is no prohibition against it. Standing over a man is prohibited except for a benefit or fear of harm. As for standing up to a man, it is prescribed for one who is worthy of it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the Ansar to stand up to Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Standing up for a person who arrives is permissible, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that when the delegation of Thaqif came to him, he stood up (peace and blessings be upon him). This indicates that there is no harm in standing up for a person who arrives.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is especially the case if leaving it off would result in harm, such that the arriving person thinks he has not been honored by the fact that one did not stand up for him, because people have become accustomed to the fact that a person is honored when he arrives by standing up for him. As for standing up to a person, it is also permissible, in the sense that a person stands up and takes a few steps facing the arriving person. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Ansar:
Rise to your master.
قوموا إلى سيدكمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for standing over a man, standing above him, it is prohibited, even in prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When he prays sitting, pray sitting.
إذا صلى قاعداً فصلوا قعوداThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So al-Mughirah was standing over his head with a sword, in reverence for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And in exalting Islam and the Muslims. And if the one over whom one is standing is feared for, there is no blame in that either, due to the presence of the cause that prevents the fear of imitating the non-Arabs. Then, in it there is the repelling of a great harm that is feared. These are three matters: standing up for a man, standing up to a man, and standing over a man. Standing up to a man is permissible, even though it should not be the custom of people. But as long as they have become accustomed to it, there is no harm in it, since there is no prohibition against it. Standing over a man is prohibited except for a benefit or fear of harm. As for standing up to a man, it is prescribed for one who is worthy of it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the Ansar to stand up to Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him).