Sharʿi Ruling on Standing for the Anthem and Flag Hoisting
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 536
Question:
I am thankful for your precious time in answering our earlier questions, which provided clarity to our staff. However, regarding the third question — “Is it permissible to stand out of respect wherever the anthem is heard?” — some colleagues remain unsatisfied.
Their objection is that standing for the anthem is not a Sharʿi matter but rather a legal requirement, and respecting the law is obligatory. Similarly, standing at the time of flag hoisting is also a matter of law.
Kindly provide a satisfactory answer to this objection in light of Qur’an and Hadith.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Indeed, in Islam, obedience to the ruler or leader is obligatory, but only so long as it does not entail disobedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. When obedience results in disobedience, it is no longer permissible.
Incident from Sahih al-Bukhari
It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and other collections that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appointed a man as leader of a military detachment. He lit a fire and ordered the soldiers under him to jump into it. Some prepared to obey, while others said: “We accepted Islam to escape the fire; why should we enter it?” During this, the leader’s anger subsided, and he withdrew his order.
When the incident was reported to the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
{لَوْ دَخَلُوْهَا مَا خَرَجُوْا مِنْهَا اِلٰی يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ}
“If they had entered it, they would never have come out of it until the Day of Resurrection.”
And he further said:
{لاَ طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوْقٍ فِیْ مَعْصِيَةِ اﷲِ}
“There is no obedience to the created being in disobedience to Allah.”
Divine Law vs. National Law
Respected brother, consider: if the government were to legislate that during the anthem, all must bow or perform sujūd in respect, would Muslims comply? Certainly not, because the law of Allah takes precedence over man-made laws.
For example, interest (ribā) is absolutely prohibited in Sharīʿah, yet it is permitted by national law. Should a Muslim respect such a law? Clearly, no.
Practice of the Companions
In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, there are examples of the Companions رضي الله عنهم rejecting certain state rulings because they contradicted the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, such as:
❀ Abstaining from performing Hajj Tamattuʿ
❀ Burning apostates
❀ Delivering the ʿEid sermon before prayer
If during the era of Khayr al-Qurūn (the best generations), laws opposing Sharīʿah were not respected, how can today’s government laws be preferred over Sharīʿah?
Statement of ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما
In Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said:
{أَاَمْرُ أَبِیْ يُتَّبَعُ اَمْ اَمْرُ رَسُوْلِ اﷲِ ﷺ}
“Should I follow the command of my father, or the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?”
This statement deserves to be written in golden letters.
May Allah grant us all true understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah and the ability to act upon them purely for His sake. Āmīn, Yā Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.
Hādhā mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
