Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … From this hadith, it is understood that the standing of the followers (muqtadis) is connected to the arrival of the imam, not to the iqamah. However, the following hadith is worthy of consideration: Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah radi Allahu anhu says: “Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu would not pronounce the iqamah until the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came out. When he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam arrived, he would see him and then pronounce the iqamah.” (Sahih Muslim) The way to reconcile and harmonize these two hadiths is that Sayyiduna Bilal radi Allahu anhu would wait for the arrival of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and as soon as he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam saw him, he would begin to pronounce the iqamah. Then, upon seeing him sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the people would stand up. However, sometimes he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would be delayed, so the Companions were prohibited from standing before his arrival. As for those narrations in which it is mentioned that the Companions would stand before the arrival of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, they should be understood as either occurring before the aforementioned prohibition in the above hadith, or as being permissible. The former is more appropriate.