4) REFUTATION AGAINST THE GROUNDLESS ARGUMENTS RAISED AGAINST QIYAAM [RESPECTFULLY STANDING WHILST SENDING SALAWAT AND SALAAM]

The purpose of this chapter is to answer the baseless arguments that are raised with regard to the practice of respectfully standing whilst reciting Salawat and Salaam.

Had the objectioners been Nasara, Yahood or Mushrikeen it would have been understandable that their objections of the veneration of Huzoor-i-Aqdas (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) is due to ignorance and a lack of Imaan. Alas, we have a situation of pseudo-scholars who are so spineless as to misinterpret the Hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in order to try to snatch away the honor and esteem which Allah has bestowed upon him. 

The following discussion on the subject of standing out of respect is taken from Imam Nawawi's (rahmat allahi 'alaih) al-Tarkhis, as well as his Sharh Sahih Muslim (Commentary of Sahih Muslim), and Sharh Shamaa'il Tirmidhi (Commentary of Tirmidhi Shareef) by Moulvi Zakariyya Khandhalawi.

1. Anas (radi allahu 'anhu) said that none was dearer to them than Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam), and they would not stand up when they saw him due to their knowledge that he disliked it. Tirmidhi said it is hasan sahih (fair and sound).

MOULVI ZAKARIYYA'S COMMENTARY :

This Hadith is indicative of the high degree of humbleness of Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) did not like (the people to stand for him), although he is the possessor of high glory and is the master of both the worlds. Therefore, the Sahaba sometimes did not stand due to love, because Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) disliked it, as is required in this narration (of Hadhrat Anas) and sometimes they would stand due to the demand of love.
It is stated in "Abu Dawood" that, "Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) used to talk to us in the masjid. When Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) stood, we would stand up and we would remain standing till Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam entered the home". (Sharh Shamaa'il-i-Tirmidhi, page 342, Maktaba Rahmania, Lahore)

[Moulvi Zakariyya explains the reason for not standing], 

"Qadi 'Iyad (rahmatullahi 'alaih) says that, 'Qiyaam is prohibited whereby somebody well known is sitting and the rest of the people are standing. Therefore, in the Hadith of prohibition (of Qiyaam), it is also said, 'Do not stand as the Ajamees (non-arabs/foreigners) stand for their chiefs'".

[Moulvi Zakariyya writes further] : "Imam Nawawi says that it is Mustahab to stand for 'Ulama, respectful and noble people". (Sharh Shamaa'il-i-Tirmidhi, Page 342)

2. Abu Mijlaz (radi allahu 'anhu) said: Mu’awiya went out to meet Ibn al-Zubayr and Ibn `Amir. The latter stood up while the former remained seated. Mu’awiya said to Ibn `Amir: "Sit, for I heard the Prophet say: "Whoever likes for men to stand up for him let him take his place in the fire." Tirmidhi's version mentions Ibn al-Zubayr and Safwan, and both get up. Abu Dawud narrated it (Adab 4:385), also Tirmidhi (Adab 5:90 #44) who said: hasan (fair) and Ahmad (4:94, 100).
IMAM NAWAWI'S (RAHMAT ALLAHI 'ALAIH) COMMENTARY:

Most people in disfavour of standing are fond of quoting this Hadith. It is answered in many ways, 

1. The soundest and best -- nay, the one answer which makes all others superfluous is that there is no proof against standing up in this Hadith. Its plain, outward meaning is the explicit condemnation and HARSH THREAT AGAINST ANY MAN WHO LIKES PEOPLE TO GET UP FOR HIM. There is neither prohibition nor other than prohibition concerning standing itself, and there is agreement about this... The gravity of the condemnation is in what takes place inside the mind of the person who likes people to stand for him. If there is no such thing in his mind there is no blame on him -- all this whether they get up or not... The prohibition revolves around the love of adulation not the act of standing. Therefore there is no proof in this Hadith against the permissibility of standing. 

2. Another answer is that the Hadith is mudtarib (disordered -- many incompatible narrations) according to the two Imams of Hadith, Abu Bakr ibn Abi `Asim and Abu Musa al-Asbahani (may Allah be pleased with them), and this is a necessary cause for the weakness of the Hadith. However, this answer is open to question since both Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud have graded the Hadith fair (hasan) and have spoken concerning it. Moreover, the disparity does not result in a disorder of the kind that makes it necessarily weak, and Allah knows best. [NB: Observe the honesty of Imam Nawawi (rahmat allahi 'alaih) in defending what weakens his position.] 

3. The sayings of the Imams and Luminaries concerning whose eminence there is unanimity among the people of intellect and discernment: Abu Nasr Bishr ibn al-Harith al-Hafi al-Zahid, Abu Sulayman Hamd ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Khattabi, Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Mas`ud al-Baghawi, and Abu Musa Muhammad ibn `Umar al-Asbahani the Hafiz, may Allah be well pleased with all of them: [after quoting the isnad] Ahmad ibn al-Mughlis said: Abu Nasr ibn al-Harith said, after I mentioned this Hadith in front of him: "He only disliked the standing from the perspective of arrogance, but from the perspective of sincere love, he did not, since he himself stood up for `Ikrima ibn Abu Jahl... and he said: "Stand for your chief," and he said: "He who likes people to stand for him..." indicating that whoever likes people to stand for him, you must not stand for him." As for Baghawi and Khattabi (may Allah be pleased with them) as we mentioned with our isnad they spoke to the effect that the Hadith concerns only those who order others from the perspective of pride and arrogance. Abu Musa (rahmat allahi 'alaih) said: "The meaning of the Hadith is those who make men stand around them like courtiers stand around kings." 

3. From Abu Amama (radi allahu 'anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) came out leaning on a stick and we rose up for him. He said: "Do not get up in the manner of the foreigners who aggrandize (flatter) each other." Abu Dawud narrated it (Adab - 4:358). Ibn Majah's version (Du`a #34, 2:1261): "Do not do as the Persians do with their great ones." 

IMAM NAWAWI'S (RAHMAT ALLAHI 'ALAIH) COMMENTARY:

The answer is in two beautiful ways: 

1. The two Imams, Abu Bakr ibn Abi `Asim and Abu Musa al-Asbahani (may Allah be pleased with them),said that this is a weak Hadith which cannot be used as a proof. Abu Bakr (rahmat allahi 'alaih) said: "This Hadith cannot be established and its sub-narrators are unknown." I say: to this is added the fact that it is "mudtarib" (disordered -- see above), and it would suffice that only one of these two factors were present to grade it as weak, let alone two. 

2. The Hadith in itself is crystal-clear as to its intent as opposed to that of the rest: namely, it PURPORTS TO CONDEMN THOSE WHO STAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF AGGRANDIZEMENT. That is why he said: "Do not get up in the manner of the foreigners who aggrandize each others." There is no doubt as to what is being condemned. And Allah knows best.

Our comments: The emphasis of this Hadith is in the words, "in the manner of the foreigners who aggrandize (flatter) each other". If the directive of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was to forbid standing (Qiyaam), the words "Do not get up !" would have sufficed. There would have been no reason to qualify the statement with the words, "... in the manner of the foreigners who aggrandize (flatter) each other". The disbelieving foreigners (especially the Persians) would stand up for their undeserving kings and leaders in order to flatter their ego. It is this that the above Hadith condemns.

4. From (Nafi`) Abu Bakra (radi allahu 'anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) said: "Let no man stand from his seat for another." Abu Musa al-Isbahani narrated it with his chain. Al-Hafiz Abu al-Qasim Ibn `Asakir said in his book al-Atraf that Abu Dawud narrated in the book of Adab (4:258). The chain has Abu `Abd Allah Mawla Al Abi Burda, who is unknown. See al-Taqrib #8215.

IMAM NAWAWI'S (RAHMAT ALLAHI 'ALAIH) COMMENTARY:

The answer to this is the same two answers as the preceding section... There is possibly a third way to answer it reasonably. The meaning would be: "Do not get up from the place of prayer, of listening to a sermon and to remembrance and knowledge etc., for it is disliked that one should give up one's seat in such cases, or leave it and take another farther away from the Imam.

The same is true of all gestures that are similar to these, and we consider this to muster the general agreement of scholars, as opposed to giving up one's food and drink other things related to one's personal lot: to give those up is a most desirable thing, one of the marks of the righteous and among the manners of saints and gnostics, concerning which this verse was revealed: "They prefer others above themselves though poverty become their lot" (59:9).

The difference between the two types of sacrifice is that the right, in the person's nearness, belongs to Allah the Exalted, and to transfer it is not permissible, as opposed to food and the like where the right belongs to the person, although in some cases it belongs to Allah even then...

Our Comments : This Hadith has nothing to do with standing out of respect (Qiyaam). Below is the Hadith in question that is often quoted : Sa'id bin Abi al-Hasan said : When Abu Bakrah came to us to give some evidence, a man got up from his place, but he refused to sit in it saying: The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) forbade this, ... (Sunan Abu Dawood, Pg 1349, Volume 3, # 4809). As it is seen this Hadith has nothing to do with the subject matter. It is concerned with giving your seat to another person.

5) USING THE 'HARF-E-NIDAA' WHEN RECITING SALAWAT AND SALAAM

The 'Harf-e-Nidaa' means - to use the pronoun for addressing the second person - who is present (ie. using the word 'YA' which means 'OH !', when addressing the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) eg. 'Ya Nabi !, Ya Rasool !')

The words 'Ya' and 'Ayyu' are for addressing. The one who is addressing is called Munadee and the addressee is called Munadaa. If the Munadaa has the quality of hearing then the addressing would be 'Real', like calling a person who is present: Ya Zaid !, and if the Munadaa cannot hear then the addressing will be metaphorical, like : Oh sky! Oh earth! Oh mountain!

In the book Sharh Jami, which is a set book for the Maulvi Degree, it is written : Munadaa means to address or call the attention for real, like: Oh Zaid! or metaphorically, like Oh Sky! Oh Earth! Because the person or the thing is established which can be addressed then the word of address is affixed to it. By this general law of Arabic grammar is known that it is not necessary for the addressed to hear, to permit the addresser to use the word 'Ya'.

So it is seen that we are allowed to address even inanimate things. Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) on the other hand, is alive, and hears the Salaam and so it is obvious that he can be addressed using the Nida'.

Some individuals say that it is Shirk (attributing partners to Allahu Ta'aala) to use words like Ya Nabi ! and Ya Rasool! They say this because they believe that the Prophet (sallallu 'alaihi wasallam) cannot hear and is not presentso one should not call to him as if he can hear and is present. (This is answered in this chapter and next)

Others, say that it is permissible to say so only out of love for the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) but not with the belief in mind that he can hear you.

If the 'Harf-e-Nidaa' was not permissible then why is it present in the Salaah that we read five times a day, when every worshipper salutes the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam), "Ayyuhannabiyyu" (Oh Prophet !) ?

Some individuals state that, one does not have the intention of calling to the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) in the "Attahiyaat", rather one is merely repeating the story of M'iraj. This opinion is without basis. The religion of Islam has never commanded us to recite any Dhikr, without pondering on its meaning. Therefore, when we are reciting the "Attahiyaat", we should not possess this belief, rather we should believe that we are directly addressing the Holy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) and sending Salaams to him, upon oneself and upon all the pious of the Ummat. 

Moreover, in the famous book of Jurisprudence, Durr ul-Mukhtar, Volume 1, Page 228, is explained:

"The 'Tashahud' (Du’a read in the sitting position of Namaaz) must be read in the present and not as the repetition of an event such as took place during the Mi'raj when the 'Tashahud' was revealed. In fact, one must know and read 'Tashahud' and recite Allah's Praises then make present (haazir) the Prophet (peace be upon him) and say 'Assalamu alaika ayyahannabiyu ...', then the Salaam upon the present congregation and the pious peoples, and then the testament of the Oneness of Allah and the Messengership of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). This then constitutes the 'Tashahud'."
Words of similar effect are also found in the books of Jurisprudence, Fatawa Alamgeeri (also see Chapter on Haazir and Naazir for testimonies of the 'Ulama regarding the Attahiyyaat).

Allah Ta'aala orders us not to call upon the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) in the same way as we call upon each other : “Make not the summoning of the Messenger among yourselves, like one calls the other among you.” (Surah al-Furqan, Verse 63)
i.e. When we call upon the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) it must be with utmost respect and not like how we call each other. This Ayat is sufficient evidence, because besides making it permissible, Allah Ta'aala also shows us the etiquette when calling Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam).

Imam Bukhari (radi allahu 'anhu) in his Kitaabul Adaabul Mufrad, Imam Ibnus Sinni and Imam ibn Bashkool (radi allahu 'anhuma) have recorded that, Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (radi allahu 'anhu) once suffered from a cramp. Someone advised him to remember the person whom he loved the most. The great companion then proclaimed loudly, "YA MUHAMMADAH". It is recorded that he was immediately relieved.

Imaam Nawawi (rahmat allahi 'alaih) in his commentary of the Sahih Muslim, including in his book, Kitaabul Azkaar, records that some individuals were sitting in the company of Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (radi allahu 'anhu), when suddenly one of them suffered from cramps. The great companion advised the man to remember the person whom he loved the most. The man proclaimed, "YA MUHAMMADAH". He was immediately cured. There are in fact many Ashaab who narrate incidents of similar import.

Substantiating this, Allama Shahaab Khafaaji Misri (radi allahu 'anhu) states in his Naseem-ur Riyaaz, a commentary of the Shifa by Imaam Qadhi 'Iyad (radi allahu 'anhu), that it is indeed an established practice of the people of Madina Shareef to proclaim, "YA MUHAMMADAH"in times of difficulty and anxiety.

A blind man came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and said: "Invoke Allah for me that he help me." He replied: "If you wish I will delay this, and it would be better for you, and if you wish I will invoke Allah the Exalted (for you)." He said: "Then invoke Him." The Prophet said to him: idhhab fa tawadda', wa salli rak`atayn thumma qul -- "Go and make an ablution, pray two rak`at, then say: "O Allah, I am asking you (as'aluka) and turning to you (atawajjahu ilayka) with your Prophet Muhammad (bi nabiyyika Muhammad), the Prophet of mercy; O MUHAMMAD (YA MUHAMMAD), I am turning with you to my Lord regarding my present need / I am asking my Lord with your intercession concerning the return of my sight (inni atawajjahu bika ila rabbi fi hajati hadhih -- another version has: inni astashfi`u bika `ala rabbi fi raddi basari) so that He will fulfill my need; O Allah, allow him to intercede (with You) for me (allahumma shaffi`hu fiyya)."

It is related by Ahmad (4:138 #17246-17247), Tirmidhi (hasan sahih gharib -- Da`awat Ch. 119), Ibn Majah (Book of Iqamat al-salat wa al-sunnat, Ch. on Salat al-hajat #1385), Nasa'i (`Amal al-yawm wa al-laylat p. 417-418 #658-660), al-Hakim (1:313, 1:526), Tabarani in al-Kabir, and rigorously authenticated as sound (sahih) by nearly fifteen Hadith masters including Ibn Hajar, Dhahabi and Shawkani. Even the non-conformist, Ibn Taymiyya relates it.

1. The Prophet's (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) order, here as elsewhere, carries legislative force for all Muslims and is not limited to a particular person, place or time; it is valid for all generations until the end of time unless proven otherwise by a subsequent indication from the Prophet himself, peace be upon him.

2. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) was not physically present at the assigned time of the invocation, since he said to the blind man: "Go and make ablution," without adding: "and then come back in front of me."With regard to physical absence, the living and the dead are exactly alike, namely: absent.

3. Despite the Prophet's (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) physical absence, the wording (sigha) for calling upon his intercession is direct address: "O MUHAMMAD." Such a wording -- "O So-and-So" -- is only used with someone present and able to hear. It should also be noted that Allah forbade the Companions from being forward or calling out to the Prophet in the ordinary manner used with one another (49:1-2). The only way, therefore, that the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, could both be absent and at the same time be addressed as if he is present is that it should be understood that he is absent in the physical sense but present in thespiritual sense.

The above invocation was also used after the Prophet's (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) lifetime, as is proven by the sound (sahih) Hadith authenticated by Bayhaqi, Abu Nu`aym in the Ma`rifa, Mundhiri (Targhib 1:473-474), Haythami, and Tabarani in the Kabir (9:17-18) and the Saghir (1:184/201-202) on the authority of `Uthman ibn Hunayf's nephew Abu Imama ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf: A man would come to `Uthman ibn `Affan for a certain need, but the latter would not pay him any attention nor look into his need, upon which he complained of his condition to `Uthman ibn Hunayf who told him: "Go and make ablution, then go to the mosque and pray two rak`at, then say (this Du’a)," and he mentioned the invocation of the blind man, "then go (to `Uthman again)." The man went, did as he was told, then came to `Uthman's door, upon which the door-attendant came, took him by the hand, and brought him to `Uthman who sat him with him on top of the carpet, and said: "Tell me what your need is." After this the man went out, met `Uthman ibn Hunayf again, and said to him: "May Allah reward you!Previously he would not look into my need nor pay any attention to me, until you spoke to him." He replied: "I did not speak to him, but I saw the Prophet when a blind man came to him complaining of his failing eyesight," and he mentioned to him the substance of the previous narration.
It is written in the book Hisn-ul-Hasin, Rasoolullah (sallallhu 'alaihi wasallam) declared, "Any person who has lost his animal should say, 'O Allah's slaves ! Help me ! And may Allah Ta'ala help you !'”
Shah Wali-Allah Muhaddith Dahlawi (rahmat allahi 'alaih) in Atyabun Naghm Fi Madahi Sayyidil Arab wal Ajam, Page 22 addresses the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) as "O, the best of all creations, the blessing of Allah be on you,..."

It was the practise of the Shah Wali-Allah (rahmat allahi 'alaih) to emulate and remember daily, the practises of Shaikh Muhammad Ghawth Gawalyary (rahmat allahi 'alaih) after seeking permission from his teachers Mawlana Abu Taahir Madani and Shaikh Muhammad Sa'eed Lahori (rahmat allahi 'alaih). In this (practise) is recorded the following : “Call on Ali whose life is an open miracle. When you invoke him, he will help dispense all your difficulties." (Al Intibah Fi Salaasil Awliya Allah, Page 138)
Hadhrat Mawlana Shah Abd al-Azeez Muhaddith Dahlawi (rahmat allahi 'alaih) says that if one knows that although all help comes from Allah, to call upon another for help is allowed. He says that Awliya and Prophets also sought help in this way. Thus if one asks for help from another, he is infact, asking for help from Allah. (Tafseer Azeezi, Page 10)

Imam Allama Khairudeen Ramli (rahmat allaih 'alaih) states in Fatawa Khayria, "People who proclaim, Ya Abdul Qaadir (are merely emulating) a call. What therefore, is the reason for it not to be permissible".

It is recorded in the Fatawa of Hadhrat Shahaab Ramli Ansari (rahmat allahi 'alaih), whether it was permissible for the people to invoke the names of Prophets, Saints and 'Ulama in times of difficulty as they normally did. The great scholar replied, "Undoubtedly, it is permissible to seek the assistance of great Prophets, Saints and 'Ulama. They do, in fact, assist after they have departed from this world." 

Ibn Khateer (rahmat allahi 'alaih) in his book Al bidayah wa al-Nihaaya states that during the Yamamaexpedition the call of the Muslims was "Ya Muhammada". Hadhrat Hajee Imdaadullah Muhaajir (rahmat allahi 'alaih) says, "O Muhammad Mustapha (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam)! I have a complaint,....."(Naala-Imdaa Ghareeb, Page 26)

What the Ulema of Deoband have to say

Molvi Qasim Nanotvi, founder of Darul Uloom Deoband, says, "Help me! Oh kindness of Ahmed, for besides thee, There is none helper for Qasim, the helpless!” (Qasaid Qasimi Deobandi, Page 8) Moulvi Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi in an Arabic quartet says, “O intercessor of the servants (of Allah)! help me, you (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) are my last hope. Besides you there is none to listen to my complaints, O my Master, listen to my complaints, I am encompassed by difficulties ..." (Nasharut Teeb, Page 232)
In Munaajaat-e-Maqbool Qurbat indallahi wa Salawaatir Rasool, Page 230, he again says, “O Messenger of Allah help me, for I am in great loss, ..."