Shaykh al-Islām (may Allah have mercy on him) was also asked:

A man is reciting the Noble Book in a gathering. Upon reciting a verse of prostration, he stands up and then prostrates. Is standing up before prostrating better than prostrating from a seated position, or not? Does his doing so constitute showing off and hypocrisy?

He replied:

Indeed, performing the prostration of recitation from a standing position is better than doing so from a seated position. This has been stated by scholars among the followers of al-Shāfi'ī and Ahmad, and others, and has also been reported from 'Ā'ishah. The same applies to the prostration of gratitude, as Abū Dāwūd reported in his Sunan that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prostrated in gratitude from a standing position.

This is also clear upon reflection, for praying standing is better than praying sitting. It is authentically established concerning the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace):

“Sometimes he would pray sitting, but when he was about to bow, he would bow and prostrate from a standing position. At other times, he would bow and prostrate from a seated position.”

The latter may have been due to an excuse or to demonstrate its permissibility. However, his deliberate effort, despite praying sitting, to rise so that he could bow and prostrate from a standing position shows that this is better. It is more complete and expresses greater humility, since it involves lowering his head and the limbs with which he prostrates to Allah from a standing position.