Friday 29 April 2011

Respect for the national anthem or flag

 

Respect for the national anthem or flag
What is the ruling on standing when the national anthem is played, or when the flag is saluted?.

 

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

Playing or listening to national anthems is haraam. This has
been discussed in the answer to question no.
5000 and
20406. It makes no
difference whether what is played is songs or the national anthem or
anything else. 

Secondly: 

Standing by way of humility and veneration is not befitting
unless it is done  for Allaah. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And stand before Allaah with obedience”

[al-Baqarah 2:238]. 

Allaah has said that because of His greatness and majesty,
the greatest of creation (the angels) will stand for Him on the Day of
Resurrection and no one will speak until after Allaah has given him
permission. He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The Day that Ar‑Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel) or another angel]
and the angels will stand forth in rows, they will not speak except him whom
the Most Gracious (Allaah) allows, and he will speak what is right”

[al-Naba’ 78:38].  

The one who claims that there is any created being for whom
one should stand out of respect have given that created being one of the
rights of Allaah. 

Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “Whoever likes men to stand up for him, let him take his place in
Hell.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2755); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. That is because this is part of the might and
pride that belongs only to Allaah. 

See: Tafseer al-Tahreer wa’l-Tanweer by al-Taahir ibn
‘Ashoor (15/51). 

The caliph al-Mahdi entered the Mosque of the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the people all
stood up for him except Imam Ibn Abi Dhi’b. It was said to him: Stand up;
this is the Ameer al-Mu’mineen. He said: The people should only stand up for
the Lord of the Worlds. 

Al-Mahdi said: Let him be, for all the hairs of my head have
stood on end. 

Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’
(7/144). 

The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked: Is it
permissible to stand to show respect to any national anthem or flag? 

They replied: 

It is not permissible for the Muslim to stand out of respect
for any national anthem or flag, rather this is a reprehensible innovation
which was not known at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) or at the time of the Rightly-Guided
Caliphs (may Allaah be pleased with them), and it is contrary to perfect
Tawheed and sincere veneration of Allaah alone. It is also a means that
leads to shirk and is an imitation of the kuffaar in their reprehensible
customs, and following them in their exaggeration about their presidents and
in their ceremonies. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) forbade imitating them.  

And Allaah is the Source of strength; may Allaah send
blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
End quote. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah
(1/235). 

And Allaah knows best.

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