The Ruling on a Man Standing Up for Another

Question:
If you are in a gathering and a man arrives, and those present stand up for him, but I did not stand up; is it obligatory for me to stand up? And is there any sin on those who stand up for the guest?

Answer:
It is not obligatory to stand up for the one who arrives. This is among the noble qualities of character. If one stands up to him to shake his hand, as if taking his hand, especially the host of the gathering and the dignitaries, this is among the noble qualities of character.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up for Fatimah, and she stood up for him (may Allah be pleased with her). The Companions stood up for Sa'd ibn Mu'adh by his command when he came to judge the matter of the Banu Qurayzah. Talhah ibn 'Ubayd Allah stood up from before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when Ka'b came, after Allah had accepted his repentance. He stood up for him, shook his hand, congratulated him, and then sat down. This is among the noble qualities of character. If someone stands up for you, do so; and if someone does not stand up and remains seated, there is no blame on him. The matter is broad in this regard.
What is blameworthy is standing up and remaining standing for a long time. This is what should not be done. One stands up for him to show respect. As for standing up to greet the guest to honor him, seat him, or shake his hand and exchange greetings, this is prescribed. But as for standing up while the people are seated to show respect, or standing up only upon his entry without greeting or shaking hands, this should not be done. And more severe than that is standing up to show respect to him while he is seated, not for the sake of guarding him, but solely for the sake of showing respect.
Standing up for another is of three categories. The scholars said:
The first category is that one stands up for him while he is seated to show respect, such as how the non-Arabs respect their kings and dignitaries, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained. This is not permissible. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the people to sit down when he prayed with them while seated. He ordered them to sit and pray with him in a sitting position. When they stood up, he said: "You were about to respect me as the non-Arabs respect their leaders."
The second category is that one stands up for another who is standing upon his entry or exit, without anything else, without greeting or assisting with anything, but merely to show respect. The least of its states is that it is disliked. They did not stand up for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he entered upon them because of what they saw of his dislike of that, may Allah's prayers and blessings be upon him.
The third standing up is that one stands up facing the one who arrives, such as shaking his hand, or taking his hand and placing him in a seat, or seating him in his place, or something similar. There is no harm in this, and it is a recommended practice (sunnah) regarding the dignitaries and those for whom standing up is needed to greet the guest, as the Companions stood up for Sa'd ibn Mu'adh by the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to greet him and honor him when he came as a judge for the Banu Qurayzah. The Prophet said: So they stood up for him, greeted him, and seated him. May Allah be pleased with them all and grant them satisfaction.
Fatimah used to stand up for her father when he entered, and he would stand up for her when she entered, and he would take her hand, and she would take his hand. Talhah ibn 'Ubayd Allah al-Thamali, one of the ten (may Allah be pleased with them all and grant them satisfaction), stood up for Ka'b to shake his hand and congratulate him when he entered upon the Prophet in the mosque. He was in the circle, so he stood up from the circle, greeted him, shook his hand, and then sat down (may Allah be pleased with them all). This is of this type.