The Ruling on Rising for a Newcomer to a Gathering

Question :

This is a question about the ruling on standing: I was sitting in a gathering when a man entered; all those who were present rose except for me; I remained seated. Should I have risen? Did they sin by standing?

Answer:

It is not necessary to stand for a person who arrives, but it A is a noble manner to do so. To rise and shake the hand of somebody who enters a gathering is a praiseworthy manner, particularly if one is the host or somebody respected. The Prophet ﷺ stood to greet Fatimah, may allah be pleased with her, and she stood to greet him. The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, stood in response to the Prophet's command for Sa'd bin Muadh, may Allah be pleased with him, when he came to give judgement on Bani Qurayzah. Talhah bin 'Ubaydullah, may Allah be pleased with him, rose in the presence of the Prophet when Ka'b, may allah be pleased with him, came after being informed that Allah Almighty had accepted his repentance. Talhah Ta stood, shook his hand, and congratulated him; then he sat down. Because it is good manners to do so, standing for somebody who arrives is acceptable.

It is only evil for someone to stand for another person when he wants to glorify him. But in the case of honoring a guest to shake his hands, it is okay to stand. If he stands to glorify, or if he stands without shaking his hands or meeting him, then the action of standing is wrong. It is even worse if someone stands to glorify someone who is already seated. The scholars state that there are three kinds of standing.

1. To stand for someone who is already seated, for the purpose of glorifying him. Some foreigners do this for their kings or nobles as explained by the Prophet . This is not allowed. For this reason the Prophet ﷺ ordered the people to sit behind him when he was forced to pray sitting. When they stood, he ﷺ said,
"You have come just short of glorifying me as foreigners glorify their leaders."

2. To stand for somebody who arrives and who is also standing, without shaking his hands or meeting him, but simply to glorify him. At the very least this is disliked. The Corr panions would not rise when the Prophet entered because they knew of the Prophet's aversion to doing so.

3. To stand and shake the hands of somebody who arrives, to take him by the hand and give him a place to sit, or something similar to this. This is permissible and it is Sunnah for people of importance or for hosts who are welcoming their guests. And may Allah guide us to what is right.

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