Respect is shown to spiritual leaders by falling at their feet and worshipping them, washing their feet, and drinking the washed water with devotion.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never liked people falling at his feet and worshipping him during his lifetime. He never failed to strongly prevent it when some ignorant people attempted to do so.
Look at this incident that happened during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)!
2140 - Narrated to us Amr ibn Awn, informed us Ishaq ibn Yusuf, from Sharik, from Husayn, from Al-Sha'bi, from Qays ibn Sa'd, he said:
I came to Hira and saw them prostrating to their Marzuban. I said: "The Messenger of Allah is more deserving of being prostrated to." He said: "So I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: 'I came to Hira and saw them prostrating to their Marzuban. You, O Messenger of Allah, are more deserving of us prostrating to you.'" He said: "What if you passed by my grave, would you prostrate to it?" I said: "No." He said: "Then do not do so. If I were to order anyone to prostrate to anyone, I would have ordered women to prostrate to their husbands, because of the rights Allah has granted them over them."
I went to the city called Hira. I saw the people there bowing their heads and worshipping their leader. I said to myself, "Prophet Muhammad is more deserving of such bowing." I came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and said, "I went to the city of Hira and saw people bowing to their leader. You are more deserving of our bowing." To this, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asked, "If you happen to pass by my grave after my death, would you bow to it?" I said, "No." To this, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Yes; you should not do so. If one person could bow to another, I would have told wives to bow to their husbands."
Narrator: Qais ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him)
Source: Abu Dawud 1828
When permission was sought to fall at his feet, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave a general rule: "No human being should fall at the feet of any human being."
He states that bowing is only for God, by saying that both the one who falls and the one who is fallen upon are human beings.
At that time, it was customary for wives to fall at their husbands' feet all over the world. He also mentioned that if he did not permit that, how could they fall at his feet.
When people ask, "But we fall at your feet," he prevents them, fearing that they might fall at his grave after his death. He warned during his lifetime, "Do not worship at my grave after my death." Therefore, those who guide people to fall at their feet are scoundrels.
We see people all over the world standing up to show respect for elders, teachers, leaders, employers, administrators, and superiors.
We also see those in higher positions genuinely desiring this respect. However, this is not permitted in Islam.
Prophet Muhammad commanded that no person should stand up to show respect for any other person.
2979 - Narrated to us Mahmud ibn Ghaylan, narrated to us Qabisa, narrated to us Sufyan, from Habib ibn Al-Shahid, from Abu Mijlaz, he said:
Muawiyah came out, and Abdullah ibn Zubayr and Ibn Safwan stood up when they saw him. He said: "Sit down. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'Whoever is pleased to have men stand up for him, let him take his seat in the Fire.'" And in this chapter, from Abu Umamah. Abu Isa said: This is a hasan hadith.
Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), who was the fifth ruler of the Muslim empire after the Prophet, came out. When Abdullah ibn Zubayr and Ibn Safwan saw him, they stood up. Immediately, Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Sit down." Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) also said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'Whoever is pleased to have men stand up for him, let him take his seat in the Fire.'"
Sources: Tirmidhi 2769, Abu Dawud 4552
From this history, we learn that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clearly stated that people should not stand up even for a king. No Muslim should expect to stand up.
12526 - Narrated to us Abd al-Samad, narrated to us Hammad, from Humayd, from Anas, he said:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would come, and there was no one on earth more beloved to us than him. Yet, we would not stand up for him because we knew of his dislike for that."
Narrator: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
Sources: Ahmad 12068, 11895, Tirmidhi 2678
The following incident serves as evidence of how much Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) disliked people standing up for him.
953 - Narrated to us Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, narrated to us Abdah ibn Sulayman, from Hisham, from his father, from Aisha, she said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fell ill, and some of his companions came to visit him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) led the prayer while sitting. They prayed behind him standing. When he looked back, he saw them standing. He gestured to them to sit down. They sat down. When he finished the prayer, he said: "The Imam is only made to be followed. So when he bows, bow, and when he raises his head, raise your head. And if he prays sitting, then pray sitting."
Source: Muslim 701
It can also be seen in Bukhari 689, 732, 733, 805, 1114, 688 that the companions prayed sitting when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prayed sitting. Anyone who is unable to stand due to physical discomfort is permitted to pray sitting.
It was on this basis that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the prayer while sitting. However, those praying behind him had no discomfort, so they stood. They did not stand to show respect to the Prophet.
However, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting in front and others were standing behind, it gave the impression that no one should sit before the Prophet. This appeared like people standing before the kings of other countries. To prevent even that scent from touching him, the Prophet commanded everyone to pray sitting.
At this point, one thing must be understood correctly.
One can stand up for someone for the purpose of welcoming or expressing affection. One should not stand up for the sake of respect.
When his own daughter came to see him, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) went to the door to welcome her. (Tirmidhi 3807)
When someone comes to our house, we can stand up. Similarly, when we go to their house, they should stand up to welcome us. This is called welcoming.
When someone comes to us, we stand up to welcome them. But if we go to them and they do not stand up to welcome us, it means we stood up for them out of respect. This is forbidden in Islam. Standing up is considered a welcome only if it is mutual for both parties.
Should one fall at the feet?
Respect for spiritual leaders often involves falling at their feet, worshipping them, washing their feet, and drinking the water with devotion.
However, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never desired people to fall at his feet and worship him during his lifetime. He consistently and strongly discouraged it when any ignorant individuals attempted such actions.
Consider this incident from the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
2140 - Narrated to us Amr ibn Awn, informed us Ishaq ibn Yusuf, from Sharik, from Husayn, from Al-Sha'bi, from Qays ibn Sa'd, he said:
I came to Hira and saw them prostrating to their Marzuban. I said: "The Messenger of Allah is more deserving of being prostrated to." He said: "So I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: 'I came to Hira and saw them prostrating to their Marzuban. You, O Messenger of Allah, are more deserving of us prostrating to you.'" He said: "What if you passed by my grave, would you prostrate to it?" I said: "No." He said: "Then do not do so. If I were to order anyone to prostrate to anyone, I would have ordered women to prostrate to their husbands, because of the rights Allah has granted them over them."
I went to the city of Hira and observed people bowing down to their leader. I thought to myself, "The Prophet Muhammad is far more deserving of such reverence." I then approached Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and conveyed, "I visited Hira and witnessed people bowing to their leader. You, O Messenger of Allah, are indeed more deserving of our bowing." In response, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) inquired, "If you were to pass by my grave after my death, would you bow to it?" I replied, "No." He then stated, "Therefore, you should not do so. Had I intended for anyone to prostrate to another, I would have instructed women to prostrate to their husbands, given the rights Allah has bestowed upon them over their wives."
Narrator: Qais ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him)
Source: Abu Dawud 1828
When asked for permission to fall at his feet, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) established a general principle: "No human being should fall at the feet of another human being."
He explained that prostration is an act of worship exclusively for God, emphasizing that both the one prostrating and the one being prostrated to are merely human.
He also pointed out that at that time, it was a common practice for wives to fall at their husbands' feet globally. He questioned how they could then fall at his feet if he did not permit such an act even between spouses.
When people asked, "But we do fall at your feet," he cautioned them against it, fearing they might do the same at his grave after his passing. He explicitly warned during his lifetime, "Do not worship at my grave after my death." Consequently, those who encourage people to fall at their feet are misguided.
Standing up in respect
Globally, we observe people standing up to show respect for elders, teachers, leaders, employers, administrators, and superiors.
It is also evident that individuals in positions of authority often welcome this form of respect. However, Islam does not permit this practice.
Prophet Muhammad commanded that no person should stand up to show respect for any other person.
2979 - Narrated to us Mahmud ibn Ghaylan, narrated to us Qabisa, narrated to us Sufyan, from Habib ibn Al-Shahid, from Abu Mijlaz, he said:
Muawiyah came out, and Abdullah ibn Zubayr and Ibn Safwan stood up when they saw him. He said: "Sit down. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'Whoever is pleased to have men stand up for him, let him take his seat in the Fire.'" And in this chapter, from Abu Umamah. Abu Isa said: This is a hasan hadith.
Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), who served as the fifth ruler of the Muslim empire after the Prophet, emerged. Upon seeing him, Abdullah ibn Zubayr and Ibn Safwan rose to their feet. Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) immediately instructed them, "Sit down." He then added, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: 'Whoever desires that men stand for him, let him prepare his abode in Hell.'"Sources: Tirmidhi 2769, Abu Dawud 4552
This account clearly demonstrates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stipulated that people should not stand up, not even for a king. Furthermore, no Muslim should anticipate or expect such a gesture.
12526 - Narrated to us Abd al-Samad, narrated to us Hammad, from Humayd, from Anas, he said:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would come, and there was no one on earth more beloved to us than him. Yet, we would not stand up for him because we knew of his dislike for that."
Narrator: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him Sources: Ahmad 12068, 11895, Tirmidhi 2678
The following incident further illustrates the extent to which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) disliked people standing up for him.
953 - Narrated to us Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, narrated to us Abdah ibn Sulayman, from Hisham, from his father, from Aisha, she said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fell ill, and some of his companions came to visit him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) led the prayer while sitting. They prayed behind him standing. When he looked back, he saw them standing. He gestured to them to sit down. They sat down. When he finished the prayer, he said: "The Imam is only made to be followed. So when he bows, bow, and when he raises his head, raise your head. And if he prays sitting, then pray sitting."Source: Muslim 701
It is also documented in Bukhari 689, 732, 733, 805, 1114, 688 that the companions prayed sitting when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the prayer while sitting. Individuals who are physically unable to stand are permitted to pray sitting.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the prayer while sitting due to his illness. However, those praying behind him were healthy and thus stood. Their standing was not an act of respect towards the Prophet.
Nevertheless, the sight of others standing while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was seated in front could create the impression that no one should sit before him, similar to how people stand before the kings of other nations. To prevent even the slightest resemblance to such practices, the Prophet commanded everyone to pray sitting.
It is crucial to understand a key distinction at this point.
Standing up for someone can be an act of welcome or an expression of affection. However, standing up for the sake of respect is prohibited.
When his own daughter came to visit him, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) went to the door to welcome her. (Tirmidhi 3807)
When someone visits our home, we may stand to greet them. Similarly, when we visit their home, they should stand to welcome us. This is what is meant by a welcome.
If we stand to welcome someone who visits us, but they do not stand to welcome us when we visit them, it implies that we stood up for them out of respect. This is forbidden in Islam. Standing up is considered a genuine welcome only when it is a mutual gesture from both parties.