❖ Source: Extracted from the book “Aḥkām wa Masā’il Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshni Mein” by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Is it correct to stand up for someone out of respect? What does the Qur’ān and Ḥadīth say about not standing for others?
It is not permissible to stand up out of reverence (taʿẓīm) for anyone.
However, if a person moves forward to greet someone (out of general respect and welcoming), then that is allowed.
The noble Companion Sayyidunā Amīr Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من أحب أن يتمثل له الرجال قياما فليتبوأ مقعده من النار
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb on Disliking Standing for a Man: 2755; Abū Dāwūd: 5229]
Translation:
“Whoever likes that people stand for him (out of respect), let him take his place in the Hellfire.”
Abū Majliz رحمه الله narrates:
Amīr Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه entered a house where Ibn ʿĀmir and Ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنهما were present. Ibn ʿĀmir stood up, while Ibn al-Zubayr remained seated. Amīr Muʿāwiyah said to Ibn ʿĀmir:
“Sit down. Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Whoever likes that people stand for him as obedient servants, let him build his house in the Fire.’”
[Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 12/295; Musnad Aḥmad: 2/93–100, Ḥadīth: 17042, 16970]
Another narration states:
من سره أن يتمثل له الناس قياما وجبت له النار
[Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr: 19/412; Mushkil al-Āthār: 2/38–39]
Translation:
“Whoever is pleased that the children of Ādam stand before him, the Fire becomes obligatory upon him.”
Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
“There was no person more beloved to the Companions than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Yet, when they saw him, they would not stand up for him because they knew he disliked it.”
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb on Disliking Standing for a Man: 2754]
From these narrations, it becomes clear that:
Therefore:
✖ No teacher, professor, lawyer, minister, brigadier, or general deserves such a gesture of standing in reverence.
✔ Those who criticize others for not standing up should reflect upon the pure teachings of the Prophet ﷺ and refrain from actions that contradict Islamic law.
(And Allah knows best.)
❖ Question:
Is it correct to stand up for someone out of respect? What does the Qur’ān and Ḥadīth say about not standing for others?
❖ Answer:
It is not permissible to stand up out of reverence (taʿẓīm) for anyone.
However, if a person moves forward to greet someone (out of general respect and welcoming), then that is allowed.
The noble Companion Sayyidunā Amīr Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
Arabic:
من أحب أن يتمثل له الرجال قياما فليتبوأ مقعده من النار
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb on Disliking Standing for a Man: 2755; Abū Dāwūd: 5229]Translation:
“Whoever likes that people stand for him (out of respect), let him take his place in the Hellfire.”
Abū Majliz رحمه الله narrates:
Amīr Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه entered a house where Ibn ʿĀmir and Ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنهما were present. Ibn ʿĀmir stood up, while Ibn al-Zubayr remained seated. Amīr Muʿāwiyah said to Ibn ʿĀmir:
“Sit down. Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Whoever likes that people stand for him as obedient servants, let him build his house in the Fire.’”
[Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 12/295; Musnad Aḥmad: 2/93–100, Ḥadīth: 17042, 16970]Another narration states:
Arabic:
من سره أن يتمثل له الناس قياما وجبت له النار
[Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr: 19/412; Mushkil al-Āthār: 2/38–39]Translation:
“Whoever is pleased that the children of Ādam stand before him, the Fire becomes obligatory upon him.”
Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
“There was no person more beloved to the Companions than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Yet, when they saw him, they would not stand up for him because they knew he disliked it.”
[Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb on Disliking Standing for a Man: 2754]❖ Conclusion:
From these narrations, it becomes clear that:
- Standing up out of reverence (taʿẓīm) for someone is not allowed.
- Even though the Prophet ﷺ was the most beloved to the Companions — more than anyone else in the universe — they would not stand for him, because they knew he disliked it, and he warned against it.
Therefore:
✖ No teacher, professor, lawyer, minister, brigadier, or general deserves such a gesture of standing in reverence.
✔ Those who criticize others for not standing up should reflect upon the pure teachings of the Prophet ﷺ and refrain from actions that contradict Islamic law.
(And Allah knows best.)
