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When does the Muqtadi stand up? PDF Print E-mail
SALAAH.. The Book of Prayer - Method of Salaah from Tahrimah to Salam

When does the Muqtadi stand up?

Q: Salaah-359: When the time for Jamaa'ah arrives and the Iqaamah is being called out, at what stage should the Musallis get up to straighten the rows? Some people say that they should stand up as soon as the lqaamah starts while others opine that they should stand only when "Hayya Alal Falaah" is called out. In fact, they are so adamant about this opinion that they actually condemn those who stand up when the Iqaamah starts. Please explain.

Answer: When the rows are already straightened and the Musallis are in place, they may then stand up when the Mu'adhin calls out "Hayya Alal Falaah". This is Mustahab and by no means Waajib (compulsory) or neither an emphasised Sunnah. Durrul Mukhtaar states that it is amongst the etiquette of salaah and further explains that not doing it is not Makrooh, nor does it warrants any censure. It will however be better to do it.

When the Imaam has stood up for the salaah, it will not be Makrooh for the Musallis to stand immediately when the lqaamah is started. However, it will be Makrooh when the Imaam is not present because the Musallis should be seated as they wait for the Imaam. If the Imaam entered from the front, they should stand only when the Imaam passes by in front of them. If he enters from the rear, each row should stand as they see the Imaam passing by them. Rasulullaah SAW. instructed the Sahabah RADI. not to stand until they saw him enter. Another narration states that Hadhrat Bilaal would call out the Adhaan for Zuhr after Zawaal and would not call out the Iqaamah until Rasulullaah SAW. emerged from his room.

These narrations make it clear that the time for calling out the Iqaamah and for the Musallis to stand up depends on when the Imaam arrives. The Fuqahaa have therefore stated that Qiyaam (standing up) is for salaah and the salaah cannot be performed without the Imaam. Therefore, Qiyaam is fruitless without the Imaam. If the Imaam enters from the front, the Musallis should stand because his entry is like his leading them. If he enters from the rear, each row should stand as they see the Imaam passing by them.

Durrul Mukhtaar states that when the Imaam is close to the Mihraab (place where the Imaam stands to lead the salaah), the Musallis should stand when the Mu'adhin says, "Hayya Alal Falaah" and if he is far from the Mihraab the people of each row should stand as they see the Imaam passing by then If he enters from the front, they should stand as soon as they see him. It is Mustahab for the Imaam to start the salaah as soon as the Mu'adhin says "Qad Qaamatis Salaah". However it is even better for him to start the salaah only when the Iqaamah ends so that the Mu'adhin may also start with the rest.

Ponder! Although it is Mustahab for the Imaam to start the salaah as soon as the Mu'adhin says, "Qad Qaamatis Salaah" delaying the salaah until the Iqaamah finished has been said to be better in the interests of the Mu'adhin Similarly, in the interests of avoiding the severe warnings the Ahadeeth have sounded against not straightening the rows, it is said that it is best for the Musallis to stand up to straighten the rows as soon as the lqaamah is called out because this will not be possible after "Hayya AIal Falaah" is called out In fact, it is necessary to start straightening the rows at this stage, otherwise they will remain crooked and empty spaces will be left in between. This will then make the people guilty of the warnings stated in the Ahadeeth.

Amongst the Ahadeeth that sternly warn against not straightening the rows is one in which Rasulullaah SAW. said. "straighten your rows, keep your shoulders aligned and stand next to each other. ensuring that there are no gaps in between because Shaytaan invades the gaps between you just like a little goat (and starts to whisper evil into your hearts)." Another Hadith states that when people fail to straighten their rows, Allaah will cause their faces to be distorted. Yet another Hadith states that when people fail to straighten their rows, their hearts will be turned against each other.

Hadhrat Nu'maan bin Basheer RADI. reports that Rasulullaah SAW. would personally straighten the rows and would call out the Takbeer Tahreema only once the rows were straight. Even Hadhrat Umar RADI. use to appoint someone to straighten the rows and would also call out the Takbeer Tahreema only once the person informed him that the rows were straight. During their reigns as Khalifah, Hadhrat Uthm aan RADI. and Hadhrat Ali RADI. would also pay attention to this and always reminded the people to straighten their rows.

The gist of it all is that standing up when the Mu'adhin calls out "Hayya Alal Falaah" is amongst the etiquettes of salaah and not doing it is not at all Makrooh. In fact, it is best to stand up as soon as the lqaamah starts to avoid calling prey to the warnings against not having the rows straightened Doing this has also been established from the practice of the Sahabah RADI. Shihaab RAH. reports that the Sahabah RADI. used to stand up for salaah as soon as the lqaamah was called out and Rasulullaah SAW. would stand in his position only once the rows were straightened. Allaama Ibn Hajar RAH. states that it has been established that the Sahabah RADI. stood up for the salaah as soon as the Iqaamah started.

Another point to consider is that standing up when "Hayya AIal Falaah" is called out is an etiquette at the most and failing to do it will not be Makrooh. Even if it be assumed for a while that it is Sunnah, straightening the rows is also a Sunnah and it makes no sense to engage oneself in a Sunnah when another is being forsaken in the process.t In fact, straightening the rows is such an emphasised Sunnah that it really is Waajib (compulsory).There is also a principle in jurisprudence stating that it is better to avoid a Makrooh act rather than carry out a Masnoon act. It is therefore best to omit an act of virtue when it entails carrying out a Makrooh act. Although it is Sunnah to gargle the mouth when performing wudhu and when bathing, it will be forbidden to do so if there is fear of it going down the throat while fasting. Similarly, although it is Sunnah to pass the fingers through the hair when making wudhu, it is Makrooh when in the state of Ihraam because of the fear of hairs breaking off. When listening to the Khutbah, it is Mustahab to face the Imaam, but in the interests of straightening the rows, it will be best to sit facing towards the Qibla when the crowds are overwhelming.

Another factor to keep in mind is that the reason for standing up when ''Hayya AIal Falaah" (come to success") is called out is to hasten towards the success.t Therefore, remaining seated after it has been called out is contrary to etiquette and not standing up before it. In fact, standing up before it is called out shows even more eagerness to hasten towards success. There will therefore be no harm in standing up before "Hayya AIal Falaah" is called out. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2