When to stand up to follow the Jamaat during the Iqaamat

1. Some people say that it is not necessary to stand up during the time of Iqaamat when the Mukabbir says "Hayyalas Salaah" or "Hayyalal Falaah", rather one should stand at the beginning of the Iqaamat.
    
2. It is the belief of the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jama’at that one should stand up only after the Mukabbir has uttered "Hayyalas Salaah" or "Hayyalal Falaah" and not at the beginning of the Iqaamat.
    
3. The Ulama of Islam have explained the three different ways of standing up during the Iqaamah for the purpose of following the Jamaat (congregation). They are:
    
   1. When the Imam enters the Masjid from the side of Mihraab,
       
   2. When the Imam enters the Masjid from the back or from the sides, and
       
   3. When both the Imam and Muqtadis are present in the Masjid at the time of Iqaamah.
       
4. As far as the first two methods (3.1 and 3.2) are concerned; no differences exist amongst any group.
    
   1. Allama Abu Bakr Bin Masood (radi Allahu anhu) writes in "Badai'us Sanaai": "If the Imam is outside the Masjid, the Muqtadis will not stand until the Imam does not arrive. If the Imam enters the Masjid from the front of the Safs (lines) and when the Muqtadis see the Imam, they should stand up because when Imam enters the Masjid, it is regarded as if he has reached the place of Imaamat. If the Imam enters the Masjid from the back of the Safs, according to correct saying, from whichever Saf that the Imam passes, the people of that Saf should stand up." (Kitaabus Salaat)
       
   2. Allama Zainuddin Ashaheer Ibn Nojaim (radi Allahu anhu), writes in "Bahrur Raa'iq": "If the Imam is not in the Mihraab, then the people of every Saf should stand when the Imam reaches them. If the Imam enters the Masjid from the front, the people should stand up when they see the Imam."
       
5. When the Imam and the Muqtadis all are present in the Masjid, then it is Mustahab (recommended) for all of them to stand up for Jamaat when Mu'ezzin says "Hayyalas Salaah" or "Hayyalal Falah".
    
6. The great Jurists and scholars of Islam have explained this issue in detail:-
    
   1. Allama Abu Bakr bin Masood (radi Allahu anhu) writes: "If the Imam and the Muqtadis are present in the Masjid, then it is Mustahab for all of them to stand when the Mu'ezzin says 'Hayyalal Falah'." (Badai'us Sanaai)
       
   2. It is mentioned in "Tanveerul Absaar": "If the Imam is near the Mihraab, then Imam and the Muqtadi should both stand up at the time of 'Hayyalal Falah'." (Kitaabus Salaat)
       
   3. Allama Shami (radi Allahu anhu) has given 13 references of authentic books that people should stand up at the time of "Hayyalas Salaah" or "Hayyalal Falah."
       
   4. It is mentioned in "Tabyinul Haqaa'iq": "When the Mu'ezzin says 'Hayyalal Falah' he in fact has commanded for Qiyaam (standing). Therefore, it is Mustahab to hurry towards it." (Kitaabus Salaat)
       
   5. It is mentioned in "Durar Sharah Ghorar": "Standing up is in that time when it is said 'Hayyalal Falah'. The meaning of 'Hayyalal Falah' is 'come, be attentive'. Therefore, it is Mustahab to hurry towards it." (Kitaabus Salaat)
       
   6. Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Muhammad said that people should stand in Safs when the Mu'ezzin says "Hayyalas Salaah". (Umdatul Qari Sharah Bukhari)
       
   7. Allama Ahmad Asqalaani (radi Allahu anhu) writes in "Irshaadus-sari Sharah Bukhari": "It is reported from Imam Abu Hanifah that people should stand at the time of 'Hayyalal Falah'."
       
7. Thus, it has been made clear with many quotations of Fiqh and commentaries of Ahadith that when the Imam is near the Mihraab in the Masjid it is Mustahab to stand at the time of "Hayyalas Salaah" or "Hayyalal Falaah".
    
8. If one stands up at the beginning of the Iqaamat, then it is Makrooh:
    
   1. Mullah Nizaamuddin (radi Allahu anhu) writes in "Fataawa Alamgiri", which is a very authentic Fatawa Kitaab in Hanafi Fiqah, that: "It is Makrooh (undesirable act in Shari'ah) to stand and wait. In fact, one should sit down and when the Mu'ezzin says 'Hayyalal Falah' then stand up."
       
   2. Allama Sayyed Ahmad Tahtaavi (radi Allahu anhu) writes: "When the Mu'ezzin starts the Iqaamat and a person entered the Masjid at that time, he should sit down. He must not stand and wait because it is Makrooh as it is mentioned in 'Muzmiraat' of Qahstaani. It is known from here that to stand in the beginning of Iqaamat is Makrooh, and many people are unaware of this fact". (At Tahaavi Ala Marraqiyil Falah)
       
   3. Mufti Shareeful Haq Amjadi, the Mufti of Jamia Ashrafiya Mubarakpur mentions 21 books of Hanafi Fiqah to prove that it is Makrooh to stand at Iqamaah, that it should be heard sitting and that people should stand at the time of "Hayyalas Salaah" or "Hayyalal Falah".
       
9. Allama Abdur Rahmaan Al Jazeeri (radi Allahu anhu) writes: "According to Madhab Shaf'ee it is Sunnah to stand for Salaah when the Mu'ezzin completes the Iqaamah." (Kitaabul Fiqh Alal Mazahibil Arba) If a Shafi’i person stands in the beginning of the Iqaamah, then he loses the reward of the Sunnah.
    
10. Some people say that it is difficult to straighten the Safs (lines) if people stand at "Hayyalas Salaah" or at "Hayyalal Falah", therefore, it is better to stand up in the beginning of the Iqaamat. In reply to this: Could the Sahabah, Taabi'een and great Jurists not understand this reason? In that period there were neither lines made in the Masjid nor were there carpets and mats. Nowadays, in every Masjid, all the necessary arrangements are made to keep the Safs straight. The reason for not having the Safs straight in good time is not that the people stand at the time of "Hayyalas Salaah". In fact, the real reason for not having the Safs straight in good time is that people come into the Masjid and sit here and there. When the Iqaamat begins, they hesitate to come in front quickly. This evil should be stopped.
     
11. Some people say that in "Sharah Waqaya" and in some other books it is said that the people should stand up at the time of "Hayyalas Salaah" and in "Fatawa Hindia" and in some other books it is said that people should stand up at the time of "Hayyalal Falah". Which one of these two sayings should one practice? In reply to this Imam-e Ahle Sunnat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Bareilvi (radi Allahu anhu) says: "In my view, there is no contradiction in the sayings of ‘Sharah Waqaya’ and ‘Fatawa Hindia’ because the first saying is attributed to the end of "Hayyalas Salaah" and the second saying is attributed to the beginning of "Hayyalal Falah". In fact, both the sayings are practised together. It means that people should start standing when the Mu’ezzin is ending "Hayyalas Salaah" and they should be upright when he is at "Hayyalal Falah". (Fatawa Razvia)