Standing up for a coming person

26-1-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamo Alaikum, is that right to stand up when your superior chef of the work, teacher or somebody who is superior than you when he is passing. For muslim this act is not like shirk. please I need the answer, because i live with this problem everyday i my office. Jazakullah Khair
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

We have already clarified that it is permissible to stand up for a coming person as a sign of being respectful to him, provided that it is not known that he likes this and it is not feared for him to be proud of this. Some scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them are of the view that it is desirable to stand up for a person who is coming back from a travel or who has high authority among his people and the like. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84439.

Therefore, it is permissible to stand up for a director at work or a teacher in a school when he comes as a sign of respect to him, but this should not be a habit.

Of course, this is in regard to standing up for a Muslim, as regards a non-Muslim, then Al-Haytami may Allaah have mercy upon him reported that Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdussalaam may Allaah have mercy upon him said that this should not be done for a non-Muslim because we are ordered to humiliate him and despise him; however, if one fears from him a great harm, then it is permissible (to stand for him).

Allaah Knows best.

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