Abū Ḥanīfah and his colleagues held that the congregation should rise when the caller to the prayer (muqīm) says, “ḥayya ʿala al-ṣalāh” (“come to prayer”). The same was reported from Suwayd ibn Ghafalah and al-Nakhaʿī. They cited in support Bilāl’s words: “Do not precede me in saying āmīn.”

Mālik and Aḥmad maintained that the worshippers rise when the caller says, “qad qāmat al-ṣalāh” (“the prayer has begun”). Ibn al-Munḏir remarked that this is the practice of the people of the Two Sanctuaries.

Al-Shāfiʿī’s position is that one should stand only after the caller has finished the entire iqāmah. This view was also reported from ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, Muḥammad ibn Kaʿb, Sālim, Abū Qilābah, al-Zuhrī, and ʿAṭāʾ.

Al-Mughnī explains: “We say that the people rise at the words qad qāmat al-ṣalāh because the phrase, though declarative, functions as a command. Its purpose is to inform the congregation so that they stand, therefore it is recommended to rise immediately in obedience to that command and to achieve its intent.”

Ibn Rushd cites another report from Imām Mālik, namely, that he did not set a fixed point; rather, he left the matter to people’s ability. No decisive textual proof exists except the ḥadīth of Abū Qatādah, in which the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “When the iqāmah is called, do not stand until you see me.” Reported by al-Bukhārī (637). If the report is sound, acting upon it is obligatory.

I add: the ḥadīth is recorded in both Ṣaḥīḥ collections, and al-Bukhārī narrates it verbatim under the heading, “When should the people stand on seeing the imam?”

According to the majority of scholars—including the Ḥanbalīs—it is recommended that the imam and the congregation pronounce the opening takbīr once the iqāmah has been completed.

Al-Mughnī states: “This is the position adopted by most of the leading imams throughout the lands.”