When Should the Congregation Stand During the Iqamah in Congregational Prayer? – The Preferred Opinion
📖 Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Volume 3 – Issues Related to Prayer, Page 97
Question:
What is the correct time for the congregation to stand for the congregational prayer? Should the worshippers stand and form rows before the Iqamah, or after it has begun?
Statement of Maulana Muhammad Munir Sialkoti ( حفظه الله ):
He explained that there is no fixed time prescribed for the congregation to stand during the Iqamah. The sayings of various Imams and Companions differ in this matter:
① Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) – would stand at the words “قد قامت الصلاة“.
② Hazrat Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyib (رحمه الله) – held that one should stand as soon as the Mu’adhdhin says “الله أكبر“.
③ Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) – preferred standing at “حي على الفلاح“.
④ Imam Malik (رحمه الله) – left it to the people’s capacity, as some might be weak or slow to rise.
⑤ Hanabilah – preferred standing at “قد قامت الصلاة“.
⑥ Shafi‘iyyah – considered it better to stand after the Iqamah is completed.
(References: Fatḥ al-Bārī 2/120, al-Fiqh ‘ala al-Madhāhib al-Arba‘ah 1/325)
Maulana remarked: Apparently, the opinion of Imam Malik (رحمه الله) seems closest to the Sunnah. (Fiqh al-Ṣalāh, vol. 2, p. 179)
Detailed Analysis and the Preferred Opinion
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Below is the examination of the sayings mentioned in the question:
1. Report Attributed to Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه):
- Reported by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī (رحمه الله) from Imam Ibn al-Mundhir, etc. (Fatḥ al-Bārī 2/120 under ḥadīth 637).
- Found in al-Awsat with the chain:
“وَحَدَّثُونَا عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عِيسَى… قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ إِذَا قِيلَ: قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاةُ وَثَبَ فَقَامَ”
(al-Awsat 4/166, ḥadīth 1958; other version 4/187, ḥadīth 1947) - The narrators in “وَحَدَّثُونَا“ are unknown → chain is weak.
- Also recorded in al-Sunan al-Kubrā (2/21) without a chain.
- Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr narrates it through his chain from Abu Bakr al-Athram:
“رَأَيْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ… قَامَ فَوَثَبَ“ (al-Tamhīd vol. 9 p. 193; other ed. vol. 3 p. 102) - However, Abu Ya‘la Salamah ibn Wardān al-Laythī al-Madanī is a weak narrator (Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb: 2514).
Conclusion: The narration attributed to Hazrat Anas (رضي الله عنه) is weak.
2. Statement of Imam Sa‘eed ibn al-Musayyib (رحمه الله):
- Recorded in al-Tamhīd (vol. 9 p. 193; other ed. vol. 3 p. 102).
- Weak due to several reasons, especially because Kulthūm ibn Ziyād al-Muhāribī is considered weak by the majority (Lisān al-Mīzān 4/489; other ed. 5/557).
3. Statement of Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله):
- Not authentically established from him.
- Reported from Ibn Farqad (author of al-Aṣl 1/18–19), who is weak and criticized by the majority of ḥadīth scholars.
4. Statement of Imam Malik (رحمه الله):
- Found in his famous Muwaṭṭa’:
- Narration of Yaḥyā 1/71
- Narration of Abu Muṣ‘ab al-Zuhrī: 186
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar (رحمه الله) writes:
“وَذَهَبَ الأَكْثَرُونَ إِلَى أَنَّهُمْ… لَمْ يَقُومُوا حَتَّى تَفْرُغَ الإِقَامَةُ”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 2/120)
5. Other Opinions & Evidences:
- Imam al-Tirmidhī (رحمه الله):
“إذا كان الإمام في المسجد… يقومون إذا قال المؤذن: قد قامت الصلاة“ — opinion of Ibn al-Mubārak (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 592). - Ibn al-Mubārak’s statement has authentic chains in al-‘Ilal al-Ṣaghīr (p. 1; other ed. p. 889).
- Imam Ahmad ibn Ḥanbal (رحمه الله): If the Imam is present in the masjid, the people should stand when the Mu’adhdhin says “قد قامت الصلاة“.
- Imam Ishāq ibn Rāhawayh (رحمه الله): Fully agreed with Imam Ahmad.
(Masā’il Ahmad wa Ishāq by Ishāq ibn Mansūr al-Kawsaj 1/127–128, no. 179) - Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله): If the Imam is in the masjid, stand when he stands; if he is coming from outside, stand when you see him, and not before.
- Based on the ḥadīth of Abu Qatādah (رضي الله عنه) (al-Awsat, new ed., vol. 4 p. 188)
Preferred View (Rājiḥ Qawl):
Based on the above evidences:
✔ When the Iqamah is being said and the words “قد قامت الصلاة“ are reached, the people should stand for prayer.
✔ If they stand earlier along with the Imam or Mu’adhdhin (while the Imam is in the masjid), it is also permissible.
وَالله أعلم بالصواب
🗓 Date Written: 15 November 2010
