Is It Permissible To Stand Up and Greet My Non-Muslim Boss at Work?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I work in a company, and as workers, we have to greet and stand up for our senior officers. One of my friends told me that it is prohibited for Muslims to stand up for non-Muslims out of respect. Does this claim have any basis in Shariah? Thank you

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

It is permissible to stand out of respect for non-Muslims. The Quran and Sunna are replete with guidance for Muslims to treat non-Muslims with good, kindness, and righteousness. The following narration clarifies that even in the context of a funeral, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) showed tremendous respect to non-Muslims, and Allah knows best.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would sometimes stand up for others as a sign of mutual respect. On one occasion, the Prophet stood when the funeral of a Jewish leader passed by him. Ibn Abi Laila (may Allah be pleased with him) reported, “A funeral passed by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), and he, peace and blessings be upon him, stood up. It was said to him, ‘It is a Jew.’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) responded, ‘Was he not a soul?’” [Agreed Upon]

On another occasion, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) commanded the Companions (Allah be pleased with them) to stand for Sa‘d ibn Mu‘adh (Allah be pleased with him), who at the time was acting as judge, saying, “Stand for your chief.” [Muslim] Several scholars opine that it is recommended to stand for the people of virtue as long as it is not done excessively or in exaggeration.

Imam Nawawi comments on this narration, saying:

فِيهِ إِكْرَامُ أَهْلِ الْفَضْلِ وَتَلَقِّيهِمْ بِالْقِيَامِ لَهُمْ إِذَا أَقْبَلُوا هَكَذَا احْتَجَّ بِهِ جَمَاهِيرُ الْعُلَمَاءِ لِاسْتِحْبَابِ الْقِيَامِ قَالَ الْقَاضِي وَلَيْسَ هَذَا مِنَ الْقِيَامِ الْمَنْهِيِّ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ فِيمَنْ يَقُومُونَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ وَيَمْثُلُونَ قِيَامًا طُولَ جُلُوسِهِ

 “It is considered honouring the people of erudition; to stand to receive them when they arrive. This is what most scholars stated, referring to the praiseworthiness of standing for them. Al-Qadi [s. Iyad] said that this standing is not prohibited, for what is prohibited is standing for them while they are sitting and remaining standing for as long as they remain seated.“ [Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim]

I pray that this benefits.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan. 

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.