بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
I would like to know when should one arise and stand in Saffs (rows), with regards to congregational prayer. The reason I ask this is because in some Masaajids, people stand and form their rows before the commencement of the Iqaamath whilst in other Masaajids, people tend to wait for the Iqaamath to commence before forming their Saffs.
At the time of takbeer there is instruction to remain seated. It is disliked to stand before the Mukabbir (one giving takbeer) utters the words of Hayya Alas Salaah or Hayya Alal Falaah.
The Ulama [ scholars] of Islam have explained the three different ways of standing up during the Iqamah for the purpose of following the Jamaat (congregation). They are:
- When the Imam enters the Masjid from the front
- When the Imam enters the Masjid from the back
- When both the Imam and Muqtadees(followers) are present in the Masjid at the time of Iqamah
As for 1 & 2 mentioned above the Fuqaha and Ulama have presented the following ruling:
“If the Imam is outside the Masjid and he enters from behind the rows, each row [of Muqtadees] will stand as he passes that particular row. This is the opinion of Shams al-A’immah Al-Halwani, Al-Sarakhsi and Shaykh al-Islam Khuwahar Zadah (Allah be pleased with them). 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).
It is seen that in present time number 3 is the usual case, regarding which the confusion exists. The Ulama of Hanafi Mazhab have ruled regarding this as follows:
“If the Muazzin and the Imam is not the same person and the Imam and Muqtadees are in the Masjid, the Imam and Muqtadis will stand when the Muazzin says Hayya alal Falah, according to our three Imams (Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammed (Allah be pleased with them)) and this is the correct view.
(Fatawa Alamgiri)
It is better to stand up on the words of Hayya alal Falah because these words carry an instruction [to come to success]. Therefore, on these words a person will make an effort and hasten.
(Al-Bahr al-Ra’iq)
It is Makrooh for one to stand and wait for Iqamah, he must sit and wait until the Mukabbir says Hayya alal Falah and then stand up for Salah, this rule also applies to the Imam.
(Bahar-e-Shariat from Fatawa Alamgiri)
There are many more references in the books of the Ahnaaf pointing out that it is Makrooh to stand for Salah before the Mukabbir says Hayya Alas Salah or Hayya Alal Falah.
Allah and His Rasool know better.
Darul Iftaa
Islamic Lifestyle Solutions
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