The Sunnah of Staying Seated

During Iqaamah

Muhammad Shakeel Qadiri Ridawi

 TRANSLATORS NOTE

All Praise is due to Almighty Allāh, who sent the Ambiyā

Alayhimussalaam as guidance to the people.

Peace, blessings and salutations upon the leader of all the Ambiyā,
Sayyidunā Rasūlullāh Sall Allahu Alayhi Wasallam and His
illustrious Companions Radi Allahu Anhum Ajmaeen, who are our
stars of guidance as well as the best of all companions to have
walked this Earth. Upon the Ulamā e Haq Ahle Sunnat Wa
Jamā’at, who are the manifestation of truth, and upon all those
who follow and will continue to follow Maslak e Āla Hadrat, the
path of recognition of Haq in this era.

In many Masaajid around the world today we are regularly being

told by many so called Imams and so called Scholars belonging to
the deviant sects, that it is against the Sunnah to stay seated
during the Iqaamah.
Some go as far as saying it is impermissible to stay seated and
force the muqtadees to stand, saying this is an innovation started
by Imam Ahmad Rida Khan Radi Allahu and his followers.
It is time that we stood up for Haq and informed the masses that
these mischief makers are our open enemies. We should follow the
words of the Hadith, by keeping them away from us and keeping
ourselves away from them.
If I was to present proofs from the books of Our Sunni Saheehul
Aqeedah Akaabireen only, then these deviants would try and
wriggle out this, so I will provide evidences from their own
scholars.

The Sunni Saheehul Aqeedah Ulema should push for this blessed
Sunnah to be implemented, and the Awaam should read this
article and not pay any attention to the deviants.
The proofs have also been presented in the Urdu language by
Shahzaadah e Huzoor Muhadith e Kabeer Hadrat Mufti Ataa ul
Mustafa Amjadi sahib Qibla, so that the English language barrier
cannot be used as a further excuse by the fitna makers.
I pray that Almighty Allāh accepts my humble effort in His
Majestic and Divine Court. May Allah grant health to Huzoor
Muhadith e Kabeer Hadrat Allama Zia al Mustafa Sahib Qibla and
all the other great Scholars who have remained steadfast upon the
way of our Salaf. May Allah Almighty preserve all of them, may
Allah Almighty reward Hadrat Mufti Ataa ul Mustafa Amjadi sahib
Qibla in abundance.

Ameen Thumma Ameen.

I dedicate this translation to Huzoor Taajush Shariah Mufti Akhtar

Raza Khan Qibla Alaihirrahmah, and Huzoor Mujaahid e Ahle
Sunnat Hadrat Allama Syed Shah Turab ul Haq Qadiri Noori
Razawi Sahib Alaihirrahmah, May Allah Almighty raise their
status.

Ameen.

Faqeer Muhammad Shakeel Qādirī Riḍawī

 The Sunnah of Staying Seated
During Iqaamah

The wahaabies, tableeghis and the deobandis say that it is not

proven from the Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet Sall Allahu Alaihi
Wasallam to stay seated in the Iqaamah until Hayya Ala Salaah,
Hayya Alal Falaah has been said.
Let us look at these claims and what is stated in the Hadith
Shareef and by their scholars.

What the Fuqahaa e Kiraam have stated in the major books of fiqh

The Fuqahaa e Kiraam have mentioned three possibilities

concerning standing during Iqaamah:

1) When the Imam enters from the mihraab at the time of

Iqaamah
2) When the Imam enters from the back of the Masjid
3) When both the Imam and muqtadees are present in the Masjid
at the time of Iqaamah

The laws pertaining to these three situations are as follows;

The following is recorded in Al-Badai’ al-Sanai’:

“The qiyam (standing) is for the purpose of Salah [in Congregation] and
it is not possible without the Imam. Thus, standing [without the presence
of the Imam] is not beneficial. If the Imam enters from the front of the
Masjid, the people will stand as soon as they see him because when he
enters he will directly proceed to the place of leading the Salah (Imamat).
If he enters from the back of the Masjid [from behind the rows], the
correct view is that each row [of muqtadis] will stand as he passes the
particular row, for by his passing of each row it becomes valid for that
row to follow him in Salah. It is as if the Imam is already on his place [in
front of them] for each row passed.” (Al-Badai’ al-Sanai’, 1:200)

In Fatawa Alamgeeri also known as Al-Fatawa Al-Hindiyyah it is

stated:

“If the Muadhin and the imam is not the same person and the Imam and
muqtadis are in the Masjid, the Imam and muqtadis will stand when the
muadhin says hayya ‘ala al-falah, according to our three ‘ulama (Imam
Abu Hanifah, Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammad) and this is the correct
view.

“If the Imam is outside the Masjid and he enters from behind the rows,
each row [of muqtadis] will stand when he passes that particular row.
This is the opinion of Shams al-A’immah Al-Halwani, Al-Sarakhsi . If the
Imam enters the Masjid from the front, the people will stand as soon as
they see the Imam. They will not stand before he enters the Masjid.” (Al-
Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, 1:57)

In Tabyīn al-ḥaqā’iq sharḥ Kanz al-daqā’iq and in al-Bahr ar-Raiq

sharh Kanz ad-Daqaiq it is stated:

If the Imam is not in the Masjid, the muqtadees will not stand until the
Imam does not arrive, and then if the Imam enters from the front of the
rows, the muqtadees should stand up when they see the Imam entering, If
the Imam is entering from the back of the rows, people sitting in each row
should stand up when the Imam passes by their row.
All the Fuqahaa e kiraam have agreed that to stand at the
beginning of iqaamah is makrooh, the correct procedure which has
been acted upon from the time of The Final Messenger of Allah
Almighty Sall Allahu Alaihi Wasallam up until today. Imam
Nawawi Alaihir Rahmah has written when the Muadhin says
Hayya ala Salaah or Hayya alal Falaah then both the Imam and the
Muqtadees should stand for Salah.

However, some narrations have Hayya ala Salaah and some have
Hayya alal Falaah to which Imam Ahlu Sunnah Imam Ahmad Raza
Khan Radi Allahu Anhu has beautifully written,

"When the Muadhin says Hayya ala Salah, one should begin to
stand, and when he says Hayya alal Falaah one should be standing
completely straight" (Al-'Ataya An-Nabawiyyah Fil-Fatawa Ar-
Ridawiyyah).

The rulings pertaining to this are crystal clear, which can be

supported by many Ahadith Shareefah and many books of Fiqh.
To keep this discourse short I will present just a few, so that it
becomes clear that this is not something the Ahlus Sunnah
Barelwis have invented.
The forced standing throughout the Iqaamah has been invented by
the ghair muqallid, wahabies and the deobandis just to cause fitna
and disunity amongst the saheeh ul aqeedah Muslims.
Why is it they say nothing about the many acts which have crept
into the Salaahs of the Muslims, some of which are completely
haram which imitate the non Muslims, jews, and the christians.
They never comment on those who imitate the clothing of the non
Muslims, standing bare headed in salah etc, etc. Why is this so ?
What has been stated in Hadith Shareef

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon

him) said: “When the Iqaamah for prayer is given, do not stand up
until you see me leaving my house.”

Al-Bukhaari, Muslim, Sunan Abu daud, Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Nisai,

Sunan al Daarmi, Musnad Ahmad

According to a version narrated by Muslim: “Until you see that I

have come out.”

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah ( Allah is pleased with him) says that

they stood up for salah and straightened the rows even before the
Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) emerged
from his quarters. (Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (Sall Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) would

stand up from his place when Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be
pleased with him) would say: “Qad Qamat al-salah“
( Fathul baari sharh Bukhari )

Now that we have seen what has been stated in the Hadith Shareef
and the major books of Fiqh, let us finally see what the Scholars of
the deobandi, wahaabi and ghair muqallid sects say.
What has been written in the books of the deviant scholars

molvee ashrafeli thanwis fatwa:

"One should understand standing upon Hayya ala Salaah and
Hayya alal Falaah has been written in Durre Mukhtar that this is
considered to be from amongst the etiquettes of prayer."
(Imdad al fataawa)

molvee kifayatullah deobandis fatwa:

"The Imam and the followers should stand upon the muadhin
saying Hayya ala Salah and begin the Salah upon hearing Qad
Qaamatis Salah"
(kifayat al mufti)

molvee shafee' usmani deobandis fatwa:

"If the imam and muqtadis are present in the masjid, then
according to the reliable narration, they should stand when the
muadhin says hayya ‘ala al-falah. When the Imam and muqtadis
are present in the masjid before time, it is best to stand at hayya
‘ala al-falah and qad qamat al-salah according to Imam Abu
Hanifah and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and according to Imam
Shafi’i after the iqaamah is complete."
( jawahir al fiqh)

molvee yusuf ludhiyanwi deobandis fatwa:

"It has been written to be amongst the mustahabbaat of Salah in
our books to stand upon hearing Hayya ala Salah and for the Imam
to begin Salah upon Qad Qaamatis Salaah"
( aap ke masaail aur un ka hal)
molvee mujeebullah nadvis fatwa:
"When the one saying Iqaamah says Qad Qaamatis Salaah one
should stand up for Salah"
(Islami fiqh)

molvee azizurahmans fatwa:

"To stand upon Hayya alal Falah is mustahab"
(fataawa darul uloom deoband)

molvee karamatullah jownpuris fatwa:

"When the Muadhin says Hayya ala Salah then both the Imam and
the followers should stand up for Salah"
( miftaah al jannah)

molvee fareed deobandis fatwa:

"To stand upon hearing Hayya ala Salaah is from adab and is afdal"
( fataawa fareediyah )

molvee Muhammad wahaab deobandis fatwa:

"It is best to stand at hayya ‘ala Salah according to Imam Abu
Hanifah and Imam Muhammad "

molvee waheed al zaman ghair muqallids fatwa:

"The people of the Masjid will not stand until they see the Imam, if
the Imam is present in the Masjid then they will stand after the
Iqaamah has been completed. Some Ulema have written when the
one calling Iqaamah reaches Qad Qaamatis Salaah the followers
should stand".
( nazaal alabrar )
molvee Muhammad Abdul Rahman ghair muqallid mubarakpuris
fatwa:
"When Hadrat Bilal Radi Allahu Anhu would say Qad Qaamatis
Salaah The Messenger of Allah Almighty would stand and say the
Takbir of Salah"
( tohfa al ahfazi sharah Tirmidhi )

Jamiatul uloom binori towns fatwa:

Question: when in the congregation Salaah the Iqaamah is given,

when should one stand?
Please reply in light of Hadith Shareef.
Mohammad Asif new Karachi.

Reply: Before replying to the question one should understand

what was the action of The Prophet Sall Allahu Alaihi Wasallam
and his companions. Once this is done, the answer becomes
crystal clear.
It was narrated that Abu Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with
him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) said: “When the iqaamah for prayer is given, do not
stand up until you see me.”
When Hadrat Bilal Radi Allahu Anhu would say Qad Qaamatis
Salaah The Messenger of Allah Almighty would stand and say the
Takbir of Salah"
“If the Muadhin and the imam is not the same person and the
Imam and muqtadis are in the Masjid, the Imam and muqtadis will
stand when the muadhin says hayya ‘ala al-falah, according to our
three ‘ulama (Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam
Muhammad) and this is the correct view.
“If the Imam is outside the Masjid and he enters from behind the
rows, each row [of muqtadis] will stand when he passes that
particular row. This is the opinion of Shams al-A’immah Al-
Halwani, Al-Sarakhsi and Shaykh al-Islam Khuwahar Zadah. If the
Imam enters the Masjid from the front, the people will stand as
soon as they see the Imam. They will not stand before he enters
the Masjid.” (Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah),.
And Allah Almighty knows best
Muhammad Ikraam darul iftaa jamiatul uloom islamia, Allama
binori town Karachi 5, 28/2/1419 hijri, this answer is correct
nizamudeen.

molvee izaaz ali deobandis fatwa:

he writes in the haashiyah of Nurul Idaaah
"The Imam and followers if they are near to the mihraab, then it is
from the adaab that they should stand upon hearing Hayya alal
Falaah."
( Haashiyah Nurul Idaah )

anwar shah kashmiri deobandis fatwa:

"It seems from some Ahadith that the companions would stand
upon the completion of Iqaamah, and from some Ahadith that they
would stand half way through and this is the way it has been
written in our books"

abdul hayye lakhnawis fatwa:

"The Imam should stand at Hayya alal Falaah. It is written this
way in Hidaayah, wiqaayah and others that the followers should
stand upon hearing Hayya alal Falaah"
( majmooa risaail lakhnawi)

These quotes from the fataawas of the elders of those who today
stop others from sitting and force them to stand, along with saying
to sit is not proven from any Hadith or Sunnah is a killer blow.
Their own books support what the Saheehul Aqeedah Sunni
Ulema e Kiraam have always written and said.
Now after seeing their own scholars fataawas they should accept
defeat, for when one doesn't listen to what his own are saying
there is no solution apart from one.
That they should find a reputable mental institute and register
themselves and their followers in it as soon as possible.

Ataa ul Mustafa Azmi

Dar ul Iftaa Dar ul Uloom Amjadia
Alamgeer Road Karachi, 24 shawaal 1419, 11 jan 1999

Translated by Faqeer Muhammad Shakeel Qadiri Ridawi.

The fataawas and the references are attached in Urdu and Arabic
below.