A similar story is related by al-Dīnawarī in al-Muntaqā min al-Mujālasah (f. 8/1—Aleppo manuscript). Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī al-Baṣrī narrated to us:

“Al-Mutawakkil sent for Aḥmad ibn al-ʿAdl and other scholars, gathered them in his house, and then came out to them. All the people stood, except Aḥmad ibn al-ʿAdl. Al-Mutawakkil said to ʿUbayd Allāh, ‘This man does not recognize our legitimacy.’ He replied, ‘On the contrary, Commander of the Faithful, but his eyesight is impaired.’ Aḥmad ibn al-ʿAdl said, ‘Commander of the Faithful, there is nothing wrong with my eyesight. Rather, I wished to spare you the punishment of Allah, Most High. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever likes men to stand before him, let him take his place in the Fire.”’ Al-Mutawakkil then came and sat beside him.”

Ibn ʿAsākir also related in Tārīkh Dimashq (19/170/2), through his chain from al-Awzāʿī, who said: One of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz’s guards told me:

“ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz came out to us as we were awaiting him on a Friday. When we saw him, we stood up, so he said, ‘When you see me, do not stand; rather, make room.’”

Understanding of the Hadith:

This hadith indicates two matters.

First: it is prohibited for a person entering upon others to like them to stand for him. Its indication in this regard is explicit and requires no explanation.

Second: it is disliked for those who are seated to stand for one who enters, even if he does not like their standing. This falls under cooperating in goodness and not opening the door to evil. This subtle point was demonstrated to us by the narrator of the hadith, Muʿāwiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, when he reproved ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿĀmir for standing for him and cited the hadith as proof against him. This reflects his understanding of the religion, his knowledge of the principles of the Sacred Law—including blocking the means that lead to evil—and his awareness of human nature and how people are affected by the causes of good and evil. For if you imagine a righteous society like that of the early righteous predecessors, where people were not accustomed to standing for one another, it would be rare