Written by: Maulana Abu Al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (may Allah preserve him)
Question:
In our country, it is a common practice for people to stand in respect for the national anthem. Is this standing comparable to standing in prayer? Is this practice correct?
Answer:
The act of standing during prayer is an act of worship prescribed by Shariah and is done solely for Allah. It is not permissible to stand in honor of anyone other than Allah, whether it be for a person, a song, or an anthem. Allah Almighty says:
“Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the middle prayer. And stand before Allah with devotion and humility.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 238]
This verse shows that standing is to be done only for Allah, and it is not correct to stand for anyone else. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned those who desire people to stand for them. Whether it is a teacher, leader, president, or anyone from any walk of life, if a person desires such respect, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has warned them of Hellfire. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever loves that people stand for him, let him take his place in Hellfire.”
[Abu Dawood, Book of Manners: Chapter on A Person Standing for Another, 5229; Tirmidhi, Book of Manners: Chapter on Disliking People Standing for One Another, 2755]
Abu Majliz (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated:
"Mu'awiyah entered a house where Ibn Aamir and Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them) were present. Ibn Aamir stood up, but Ibn Zubair remained seated. Mu'awiyah said to Ibn Aamir, 'Sit down, for I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: Whoever likes that people stand for him should take his seat in the Fire.'"
[Musnad Ahmad: 4/93, 100; Sharh al-Sunnah: 12/295, 3330]
Imam Al-Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) considered this hadith to have a good chain.
Furthermore, Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever loves that the sons of Adam (people) stand for him has made Hellfire obligatory upon himself."
[Tabarani Al-Kabir: 19/362; Mishkat al-Athar: 2/38-39]
The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) had immense love for the Prophet (peace be upon him), but even with this deep love, they would not stand for him because they knew that the Prophet (peace be upon him) disliked such practices. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
“There was no person more beloved to them than the Prophet (peace be upon him), yet when they saw him, they did not stand up because they knew that he disliked that.”
[Tirmidhi, Book of Manners: Chapter on Disliking People Standing for One Another, 2754; Sharh al-Sunnah: 12, 294]
Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Al-Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on them) classified this hadith as authentic.
From this authentic hadith, it is evident that if standing for the Prophet (peace be upon him), a pure and exalted personality, was not permitted, then how can it be allowed to stand for anyone else? Therefore, standing for a school teacher, judge, lawyer, professor, director, president, prime minister, army officer, singer, or in respect for an anthem or song is not permissible according to Shariah. Those who desire such standing are essentially purchasing their place in Hellfire.
Some people use the hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him):
“Stand up for your leader.”
[Bukhari, Book of Battles: Chapter on the Prophet’s Return from the Battle of Al-Ahzab, 4121]
They argue that this hadith proves that standing in respect for someone is permissible. However, this interpretation is incorrect. Firstly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not say, “Stand up out of respect for your leader.” Rather, he said, “Stand up and go towards your leader.” There is a significant difference between these two statements.
Secondly, the context of this hadith is that Sayyiduna Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) was wounded during the Battle of the Trench, when a man named Habban ibn Qais shot an arrow that severely injured him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had a tent set up for him in the mosque to care for him. When Jibril (peace be upon him) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and indicated that the battle was not yet over and the tribe of Banu Qurayza needed to be dealt with, the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded the siege of Banu Qurayza.
When the Banu Qurayza surrendered, they agreed to accept the judgment of Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him). Sa’d was brought on a donkey to the Prophet (peace be upon him). When Sa’d arrived near the mosque, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told the people:
“Stand up and help your leader (Sa’d) to dismount.”
[Bukhari, Book of Battles: Chapter on the Prophet’s Return from the Battle of Al-Ahzab, 4121-4122]
Another narration from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“Stand up for your leader and help him dismount.”
[Musnad Ahmad: 6/142]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah be pleased with him) remained silent on this narration, which implies he considered it authentic or hasan (good) in his view. [Fath al-Bari: 7/412] This has also been mentioned by Zafar Ahmad Thanwi in Qawa'id Fi Uloom al-Hadith.
These narrations clarify that Sa’d was ill and riding a donkey, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed the people to help him dismount, not to stand in respect for him. Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) could not have commanded people to stand in respect for Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) when he himself disliked being stood for, as mentioned in the hadith from Tirmidhi.
Therefore, standing for respect for any individual, whether it is a schoolmaster, judge, general, politician, or in the case of a national anthem, is not permissible in Shariah. Those who encourage such practices are, in reality, paving the way to Hell for themselves. May Allah guide us to the straight path. Ameen.
Question:
In our country, it is a common practice for people to stand in respect for the national anthem. Is this standing comparable to standing in prayer? Is this practice correct?
Answer:
The act of standing during prayer is an act of worship prescribed by Shariah and is done solely for Allah. It is not permissible to stand in honor of anyone other than Allah, whether it be for a person, a song, or an anthem. Allah Almighty says:
“Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the middle prayer. And stand before Allah with devotion and humility.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 238]
This verse shows that standing is to be done only for Allah, and it is not correct to stand for anyone else. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned those who desire people to stand for them. Whether it is a teacher, leader, president, or anyone from any walk of life, if a person desires such respect, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has warned them of Hellfire. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever loves that people stand for him, let him take his place in Hellfire.”
[Abu Dawood, Book of Manners: Chapter on A Person Standing for Another, 5229; Tirmidhi, Book of Manners: Chapter on Disliking People Standing for One Another, 2755]
Abu Majliz (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated:
"Mu'awiyah entered a house where Ibn Aamir and Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them) were present. Ibn Aamir stood up, but Ibn Zubair remained seated. Mu'awiyah said to Ibn Aamir, 'Sit down, for I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: Whoever likes that people stand for him should take his seat in the Fire.'"
[Musnad Ahmad: 4/93, 100; Sharh al-Sunnah: 12/295, 3330]
Imam Al-Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on him) considered this hadith to have a good chain.
Furthermore, Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever loves that the sons of Adam (people) stand for him has made Hellfire obligatory upon himself."
[Tabarani Al-Kabir: 19/362; Mishkat al-Athar: 2/38-39]
The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) had immense love for the Prophet (peace be upon him), but even with this deep love, they would not stand for him because they knew that the Prophet (peace be upon him) disliked such practices. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
“There was no person more beloved to them than the Prophet (peace be upon him), yet when they saw him, they did not stand up because they knew that he disliked that.”
[Tirmidhi, Book of Manners: Chapter on Disliking People Standing for One Another, 2754; Sharh al-Sunnah: 12, 294]
Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Al-Baghawi (may Allah have mercy on them) classified this hadith as authentic.
From this authentic hadith, it is evident that if standing for the Prophet (peace be upon him), a pure and exalted personality, was not permitted, then how can it be allowed to stand for anyone else? Therefore, standing for a school teacher, judge, lawyer, professor, director, president, prime minister, army officer, singer, or in respect for an anthem or song is not permissible according to Shariah. Those who desire such standing are essentially purchasing their place in Hellfire.
Some people use the hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him):
“Stand up for your leader.”
[Bukhari, Book of Battles: Chapter on the Prophet’s Return from the Battle of Al-Ahzab, 4121]
They argue that this hadith proves that standing in respect for someone is permissible. However, this interpretation is incorrect. Firstly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not say, “Stand up out of respect for your leader.” Rather, he said, “Stand up and go towards your leader.” There is a significant difference between these two statements.
Secondly, the context of this hadith is that Sayyiduna Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) was wounded during the Battle of the Trench, when a man named Habban ibn Qais shot an arrow that severely injured him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had a tent set up for him in the mosque to care for him. When Jibril (peace be upon him) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and indicated that the battle was not yet over and the tribe of Banu Qurayza needed to be dealt with, the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded the siege of Banu Qurayza.
When the Banu Qurayza surrendered, they agreed to accept the judgment of Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him). Sa’d was brought on a donkey to the Prophet (peace be upon him). When Sa’d arrived near the mosque, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told the people:
“Stand up and help your leader (Sa’d) to dismount.”
[Bukhari, Book of Battles: Chapter on the Prophet’s Return from the Battle of Al-Ahzab, 4121-4122]
Another narration from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“Stand up for your leader and help him dismount.”
[Musnad Ahmad: 6/142]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah be pleased with him) remained silent on this narration, which implies he considered it authentic or hasan (good) in his view. [Fath al-Bari: 7/412] This has also been mentioned by Zafar Ahmad Thanwi in Qawa'id Fi Uloom al-Hadith.
These narrations clarify that Sa’d was ill and riding a donkey, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed the people to help him dismount, not to stand in respect for him. Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) could not have commanded people to stand in respect for Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) when he himself disliked being stood for, as mentioned in the hadith from Tirmidhi.
Therefore, standing for respect for any individual, whether it is a schoolmaster, judge, general, politician, or in the case of a national anthem, is not permissible in Shariah. Those who encourage such practices are, in reality, paving the way to Hell for themselves. May Allah guide us to the straight path. Ameen.
