Q: A man entered and those present stood up for him, but I did not. Was it obligatory on me to stand up for the man? Do those who stood up for him incur sin?
A: It is not obligatory to stand up for a one who enters upon us. It is one of the high moral standards that a person, particularly, the owner of the house, stands up for his Muslim brother to shake hands with him and show him to his seat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stood up for Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) and she did the same with him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to stand up for Sa`d ibn Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) when he came to give his judgment on Banu Qurayzhah. Also, Talhah Ibn `Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him) upon the arrival of Ka`b Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) after Allah accepted his repentance. Talhah shook hands with him, congratulated him, and sat down again. Standing up for people in such a manner is of the high moral standards that a Muslim is allowed to do. Standing for one another out of glorification is not acceptable in Islam. Yet, it is permissible to stand up for a guest to receive him, shake hands with him, and greet him. A Muslim should not stand up for another Muslim while people are sitting without receiving or shaking hands with him. It becomes totally unacceptable when he stands up for a Muslim, who is sitting down, not for the purpose of guarding him, but out of glorification only.
Scholars classified people standing up for one another into three categories:
First: Those who stand up for a person out of glorification as nonMuslims 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
Second: Those who stand up upon arrival or departure of a Muslim out of mere glorification without receiving or shaking hands. This is at least a Makruh (reprehensible) act.
The Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used not to stand up for him upon his entering, because they knew that he disliked this action.
Third: Those who stand up for a new comer to shake hands with him, show him to his seat or the like, there is nothing wrong with that; rather, it is a commendable act as stated above.