When should one stand up during the iqamah in congregational prayer?

The issue of when the congregation should stand up for prayer during the iqamah is related not to the essence of the prayer, but to its etiquette and recommended practices.

According to Imam al-A’zam, it is part of the etiquette for the imam to begin the prayer as soon as “Qad qāmatiṣ-ṣalāh” (“the prayer has begun”) is announced during the iqamah. By doing so, the imam affirms the words of the muezzin. According to this opinion, both the imam and the congregation should have already formed their rows before this phrase is uttered. (al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyya, 1/57) However, there is no harm in starting the prayer after the iqamah is completed. In fact, according to Imam Abu Yusuf and many other jurists, this is preferable. (Aliyy al-Qari, Fath Bāb al-‘Ināyah, 1/230; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtār, 1/479)

According to another view in the Hanafi school, when the muezzin says “ḥayya ‘ala’l-falāḥ” (“come to success”), the imam and congregation stand up (Ibn Nujaym, al-Baḥr, 1/321), the imam begins the prayer, and the congregation follows him.

According to the Shafi‘i school, it is recommended (mustahabb) to stand up for prayer after the iqamah is completed. (Nawawi, al-Majmū‘, 3/252-253) The congregation should not stand up for prayer before the imam stands or before he arrives.

Since the matter of when to stand during the iqamah is related to etiquette rather than the essence of worship, it should be considered according to the size of the mosque, the arrangement of the rows, and starting the prayer together with the imam. In mosques or masjids of normal size, it is more appropriate to stand up when the imam is seen walking towards the mihrab. For the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Do not stand up for prayer until you see me.” (Bukhari, Adhan, 22 [637]; Muslim, Masajid, 156 [604]) Accordingly, a person should stand up just early enough to be ready to begin the prayer with the imam, without lagging behind him. (see Zuhayli, al-Fiqh al-Islami, 1/719)

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu