Question:
In court, people are asked to stand up when the judge enters the court. Is this allowed?
Answer:
The general ruling is that one should avoiding standing in that scenario either by remaining standing initially or through excusing himself if possible.
Ash-Shaykh Bin Baaz, rahimahullah, said:
Those who stand up for a person out of glorification as non-Muslims do with their kings and noble men. The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared it impermissible. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered his Companions to sit down behind him when he performed Salah (prayer) in a sitting position. When they stood up, he said: You were about to glorify me just like Persians and Romans do when they glorify their chiefs.
However, if there is a greater harm going to take place if he doesn’t stand, then the following fatwa applies to him:
Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah, said:
وأما القيام للشخص فهو الذي ذكرناه قريباً وأن الأفضل تركه ولكن إذا اعتاده الناس وكان في تركه مفسدة فإنه لا ينبغي تركه درءاً لهذه المفسدة
“… As for standing for a person, then that was what we mentioned recently, that it is better to leave it off. However, if the people become accustomed to it and leaving it off will bring about harm, then it is not appropriate to leave it off in order to prevent this harm…”
And Allah knows best.
Translated and Answered by
AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
