Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalamwalaikum Burhan Bhai,

Recently I went to religious gathering. Over there, the main Maulana (so as to call) was given speical importance. Like, while sitting for lunch, everyone ate in a thermacoal plate and thermacoal glass except for him. He was given crockery plate and glass. All were sitting down execpt the place where Maulana sat, a bedsheet was laid though there was carpet beneath as was for everybody. My question is that giving this much importance to a person is Jaayaz or haram. Also, one who offer such assistance, is he also to blame. I didnot approve such respect and thus didn`t sit with them, except in Breakfast and told other guys why I felt it was`nt right. DId I do the right thing. I didnot say a word to the maulana. All over there were from tableege jamat and I am not.
Looking forward to your reply.
Allah Hafiz 

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Answer:

Seat of importance for priest

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 5126 Narrated by Umar ibn as-Sa'ib

One day when the Messenger of Allah (saws) was sitting, his foster-father came forward. He (saws) spread out of a part of his garment and he (his foster-father) sat on it. Then his foster-mother came forward to him and he (saws) spread out the other side of his garment, and she sat on it. Again ,his foster-brother came forward. The Messenger of Allah (saws) stood for him and seated him before himself.

To honor and respect one’s elders or loved ones, and give them preference over oneself is indeed an Islamic etiquette and a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4698 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

No one was dearer to them (the companions) than Allah's Messenger (saws), but when they saw him (saws), they did not stand up (to receive him), because they knew his dislike of that.

But when seated in a gathering, the Messenger of Allah (saws) disapproved of the believers standing up from their places to receive him when he (saws) entered into their gatherings. It is also recorded that when the Messenger of Allah (saws) was seated in a gathering amongst his companions, and a new visitor who did not know the Prophet (saws) happened to visit that gathering, he would have to ask and enquire who amongst the gathering was Mohamed (saws), the Messenger of Allah?

Your Question: ….My question is that giving this much importance to a person is Jaayaz or haram.

If one enters a religious gathering and finds that the main ‘leader’ or ‘moulana’ is seated in a position of honor apart from and above his gathering; or finds that the ‘moulana’ is given preferential treatment, etc….for the ‘moulana’ to expect or endorse such treatment would definitely be against the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). It would indeed be piety and righteousness on the part of the ‘moulana’, if indeed he fears Allah and the Last Day, to disapprove of such preferential treatment accorded to him and insist that he be treated like the other believers gathered at the meeting.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan