Q: What is the ruling for standing up for salaah before the imaam stands up?
A. For the Muqtadis to stand up for Salaah and straighten the Saffs before the Imam stands up is permissible. There is great emphasis in many Ahaadeeth on the straightening of the Saffs. In these times of apathy, it is best that the Muqtadis prepare the Saff well in advance.
A Hadeeth narrated by Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) states that they (the Sahaabah) would stand up for Salaah and straighten the Saffs even before Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) emerged from his quarters.
(Muslim V2 P101)
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai