Short Answer

There is no benefit in remaining standing without praying.

Reason For Asking

Some people misunderstood the Prophet when he said “When you enter a masjid, pray two units before sitting down.” [Bukhari #444] They wrongly assumed that you should not sit down in the masjid until the prayer begins, but he meant to not sit down if you have the ability and intent to pray.

What the Scholars Said

Imam Al-Hattab al-Ru’ayni (Maliki) in Mawahib al-Jalil: “If a person enters the masjid at a time when prayer is not performed (or when the iqamah is about to occur), he should sit down and not remain standing, because remaining standing without prayer is not worship.”

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen in Sharh al-Mumti‘: “Some people, when they enter the masjid and the iqamah is about to be called, remain standing, saying: ‘The Prophet forbade sitting before praying two units.’ This is a mistake, because the intent is not to stand. The intent is to pray before sitting. If you are not going to pray, then sit down.”

Version 0.5 | [Shaykh] Mustafa Umar | 9-6-2026